v1 — r 


m& 


llllllllllll!lllllllllllllllllll!llli:i!illlllll!:i!llil!lill!!!ll!Uli!M 


STORIES,  SKETCHES 

AND  SPEECHES 


OF 


GENERAL  GRANT 


AT  HOME  AND  ABROAD,  IN  PEACE  AND  IN  WAR. 


INCLUDING 


HIS    TRIP    AROUND    THE    WORLD,     AND    ALL   THE     INTERESTING 

INCIDENTS,    ANECDOTES,    AND    IMPORTANT   EVENTS 

OF    HIS    LIFE. 


EDITED  BY 

J-.     IB. 


Com 


piler  of  ll  Moody's  Anecdotes;"  "Moody's  Child  Stories;"  "Edison  and 
His  Inventions  ;  lk  Entertaining  Anecdotes  ;"  "  Mistakes  of  Ingersoll  ;" 
"Lincoln's  Stories,"  Etc.,  Etc. 


CHICAGO: 

RHODES  &  McCLURE,  PUBLISHERS. 
1879. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1879, 

BY  RHODES  &  McCLURE, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


Electrotyped  and  Printed  by 

OTTAWAY  &  Co., 
147  &  149  Fifth  Ave.,  Chicago. 


Bound  by 

&  WILSON, 
202  Clark  Street,  Chicago. 


We  are  specially  indebted,  in  the  preparation  of  this 
volume,  to  the  writings  of  Messrs.  _Deming,  Coppee, 
Headley,  Badeau,  Larke,  and  John  Kussell  Young;  also  to 
the  press  and  friends.  It  is  perhaps  quite  true  that  Gen 
eral  Grant  has  received  more  homage  from  the  civilized 
world  than  any  other  man  in  the  world's  history.  These 
Stories  and  Sketches,  and  we  may  add,  Speeches,  consti 
tute,  in  fact,  a  very  readable  and  exhaustive  sketch-life  of 
the  world-renowned  General.  "With  a  desire  to  dissemi 
nate  and  perpetuate  what  is  good  and  noble  in  the  truly 
great,  the  volume  is  submitted. 

J.  B.  McCLUBE. 

CHICAGO,  November  10,  1879. 


M143995 


Anecdote  of  Xrrant  at  West  Point ,41 

A  Remarkable  Incident  of  Young  Grant's  Integrity— He  Buys  a 

Horse  for  His  Father— All  About  the  Bargain 22 

An  Inaugural  Extract 140 

A  Confederate's  Graphic  Story  of  the  Battle  of  luka JL20 

A  Speech  of  Gen.  Grant  over  2,000  Miles  Long— From  San  Fran 
cisco  to  Galena— What  He  Said 204 

Address  of  General  Grant  to  the  Workingmen 154 

Address  to  the  Working  People - 180 

Ascending  Mt.  Vesuvius - 156 

At  Burlington 206 

At  Fremont 205 

AtGalesburg ^.. 207 

At  Home - 207 

At  Omaha - 206 

At  Pompeii .  .. — -     164 

At  Sacramento..  - 205 


Down  in  the  Mines  at  Virginia  City 201 


Explosion  of  the  Great  Vicksburg  Mine  and  Capture  of  that  City,    122 


Farewell  to  San  Francisco..,  205 


CONTENTS. 


General  Grant's  Birth  and  Early  Surroundings— A  Noble  Line  of 

Ancestry— His  Father  and  Mother 28 

General  Grant  at  School — How  He  Mastered  His  Lessons — The 

Young  Leader— His  Early  Character 21 

General  Grant's  Early  Love  for  Horses  —  His  Experience  in 
"Breaking  In"  a  Colt— He  Masters  the  "Ribbons"  in  His 
Ninth  Year 18 

General  Grant's  First  Gun— Fired  when  a  Two- Year  Old  Baby  — 
He  is  Delighted  with  the  "  Pop,"  and  Wants  them  to  "  Fick  it 
Again" -  17 

General  Grant's  Capture  of  a  "  Willing  Prisoner  "—Her  Name  was 

"  Miss  Julia  " — His  Marriage — Social  Life  in  Detroit. .  _ 80 

General  Grant  and  President  Lincoln  in  Washington 131 

General  Grant's  Address 121 

General  Grant's  own  Description  of  the  Battle  of  Fort  Donelson..     104 

General  Grant's  Private  Letter  to  his  Father,  Describing  the  Open 
ing  Battle  at  Belmont 102 

General  Grant's  Private  Letter  to  Sherman  on  the  Lieutenant-Gen 
eralship  130 

General  Grant's  Words  to  the  "  Grand  Army  " 109 

General  Grant  as  a  Farmer — He  Buys  a  Farm  and  Settles  Down 

Near  St  Louis 88 

General  Grant's  First  "  Baptism  in  Blood  "—The  American  Col 
umns  Torn  to  Pieces  before  Fort  Teneria — Tunnelling  Walls 
and  Fighting  on  Roofs  of  Houses — Grant  "  Foremost  in  the 
Ranks" 53 

General  Grant's  First  Battle — Called  from  the  Swamps  of  Louis 
iana  to  the  Plains  of  Mexico — At  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca — 
Leaping  Into  the  "Ravine  of  Palms" — His  Grand  Bayonet 
Charge. 50 

General  Grant's  First  Half  Year  of  War— It  Opens  on  Fields  of 
Sublimest  Imagery,  but  they  are  Storied  in  Human  Sacrifice 
and  Midnight  Superstitions — Grant  Amid  Pyramids,  Smoking 
Mountains,  and  on  the  Heights  of  Chapultepec 61 

General  Grant's  First  Official  Compliments  as  a  Soldier — The 

First  "Brevet" 56 

General  Grant's  First  Siege — He  Personally  Supervises  Twelve 
Miles  of  Trench  and  Parallel,  from  which  he  Shatters  the  En 
emy's  Redoubts  and  Bastions 55 

General  Grant  and  Prince  Bismarck — An  Interesting  Interview 

between  Two  Remarkably  Great  Men 173 


10  CONTENTS. 

Genera]  Grant's  Celebrated  Liverpool  Speech 152 

Gen.  Grant's  Great  Speech  in  Birmingham 183 

General  Grant  in  Paris 155 

General  Grant's  Reception  in  Salford  and  Leicester 147 

Gen.  Grant's  Return 192 

General  Grant's  Speech  in  London,  and  Private  Letter  to  a  Friend 

in  America,  Describing  His  Travels 148 

General  Grant's  Class-mates  at  West  Point— Who  they  Were,  and 

What  they  have  Done— An  Interesting  Biographical  Series..  45 

General  Grant  in  Oregon — Watching  the  Indians 83 

General  Lee's  Generous  Compliment  to  General  Grant 138 

General  Lee's  Surrender  to  General  Grant— The  Decisive  Letters 

which  Ended  the  Rebellion— Grant's  own  Account  of  his 

Meeting  Lee _. 132 

General  Smith's  Graphic  Description  of  Grant's  Galena  Life — 

Laughable  Reception  by  his  Regiment 93 

Governor  Yates'  Story  of  How  Grant  Got  into  the  Army 96 

Grant's  First  Movements  in  the  Great  Rebellion,  and  his  First 

Little  Speech 9£ 

Grant  as  a  Citizen  of  Illinois— His  Life  in  Galena— What  he  Knows 

About  Leather 91 

Grant's  Speech*  in  Glasgow 177 

Grape  and  Canister— Fired  at  Random— Many  Ink  resting  Little 

Things  About  Young  Grant 32 

Greece  and  Rome 185 

H 

How  General  Grant  Received  the  Name  "  Hiram  Ulysses  " — And 
How  the  Change  was  Made  to  "  Ulysses  Simpson  " — And  then 
to  "Uncle  Sam" 24 

I 

In  Constantinople 168 

In  Edinburgh 176 

In  Egypt 162 

In  Jerusalem 170 

In  Russia 186 

In  the  Orient 188 

In  the  Yosemite  Valley— The  "  Loveliest  Panorama  Ever  Seen  "— 

Grant'i  Little  Stories. .  194 


CONTENTS.  11 


Let  us  Have  Peace" 

lieutenant-General  Grant's  Farewell  Address  to  the  Soldiers 137 

Lieutenant  .Grant  Witnessing  General  Scott's  Triumphal  'Entry 

into  the  City  of  Mexico— What  He  Sees  from  the  Grand  Plaza.      76 


Off  for  Europe— General  Grant's  Good-Bye  to  Old  Friends 142 

On  a  Foreign  Shore— General  Grant's  Arrival  in  Liverpool — The 

Welcome  Words— His  Address  in  Manchester 144 

On  to  Mexico — Grant's  First  Experience  in  Capturing  a  Capital — 
A  Great  and  GJittering  City  Approached  by  the  High-ways  of 
Death— Grant's  Active  Part  in  the  Dreadful  Struggle -65 


President  Lincoln's  Congratulations  to  General  Grant,  and  Lin 
coln's  Little  Joke 129 

President  Grant  — Closing  Scenes  in  the  White  House— His 

Opinion  of  his  own  Administration 141 


Queen  Victoria  and  General  Grant  at  Dinner — A  Very  Happy 

Affair..  153 


Remarkable  Instance  of  Grant's  Generalship  at  the  Age  of  Twelre 

—How  He  Loaded  Big  Logs  all  Alone— His  Father's  Surprise  25 

S 

Speech  at  Newcastle _.  178 

Speech  in  Brighton 184 

Speech  in  Sheffield— Grant's  First  Penknife  ..  182 


The  First  "  Flank  Movement  "—An  Opposing  Army  which  Grant 
Thought  Best  to  Pass  Around,  with  Heavy  Margins,  to  "  the 
Left  "—Scaling  the  Heights  of  Cerro  Gordo 58 


12  CONTENTS. 

The  Race— Parallel  Generals— On  a  Four- Year  Race  Grant  Comes 

in  Ahead 108 

The  Reported  Story  that  Grant  Borrowed  Money  in  Galena  to 

Equip  Himself  for  the  War 98 

The  Science  of  War— General  Scott  is  Grant's  Teacher— Theory 

vs.  Practice 77 

The  Shiloh  Victory,  as  Described  by  an  Eye-witness Ill 

The  Siege  of  Corinth— An  eloquent  Description  by  a  Participant. .     117 


Vicksburg's  Surrender — An  Interesting  Interview  Between  General 

Grant  and  the  Confederate  General,  Pemberton 127 

W 

What  a  Fellow  Comrade  says  of  Young  Grant  at  West  Point— A 

Splendid  Record - 42 

Young  Grant  and  the  Ladies— Escorting  Under  Immense  Diffi 
culties. ..  32 


Young  Grant's  First  Victory— He  Accepts  a  Ring-master's  Chal 
lenge  to  Ride  the  "  Circus  Pony  "—An  Exciting  Occasion  to 
Everybody  but  Grant - 19 

Young  Grant  a  Cadet  at  West  Point— An  Interesting  Account  of 

His  Life  at  that  Institution..  --  36 


Boyhood 17 

At  West  Point 36 

In  Mexico 50 

Gen.  Grant's  Marriage _ _ 80 

In  the  Far  West 83 

The  Farmer 88 

In  Illinois _ 91 

In  the  Rebellion 96 

As  President ^ 140 

Around  the  World  ..  .144 


gfe. 


Banks  of  the  Nile 

Birthplace  of  General  Grant 

Capitol  at  Washington 

Cascades --- ^5 

Cathedral  at  Strasburg - 

Constantinople 169 

"Dave" 27 

Departed  Glory 

Egypt 

Elephant  Worship  in  the  East 

En    Route - * 16 

Examination  at  West  Point -- 

Frontispiece - 

General  Grant  After  his  Return 193 

Going  to  the  Store 

Grant  on  Horseback 23 

Interior  Great  Cathedral ,  City  of  Mexico ..   67 

Jephthah 's  Vow 

Mirror  Lake,  Yosemite 197 

Naples  and  Mt.  Vesuvius 

Napoleon  Witnessing  the  Burning  of  Moscow 187 

President  Grant  Reviewing  the  Cadets  at  West  Point — His  Old 

Playground  Thirty  Years  Before 37 

Storm 123 

Street  in  Cairo 167 

Summit  of  Popocatapetl 59 

The  Domes,  etc.,  Yosemite 199 

The  Old  World 149 

The  Pyramid  of  Cholula 62 

The  State  Capitol  at  Springfield,  111 94 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Tropical  Climes 

Tropical   Gardens 

Ulysses  and  his  Colt... 

Unforgotten 

Venice 

Victory 

War  in  Ancient  Times. 
Wild  Elephants 


15 

51 

75 

18 

97 

179 

20 

106 

191 


EN  ROUTE. 


STORIES  AND  SKETCHES 


-OF— 


BOYHOOD. 

General  Grant's  First  Gun— Fired  when  a  Two-Year  Old  Baby- 
He  is  Delighted  with  the  "Pop"  and  Wants 
them  to  "  Fick  it  again." 

When  General  Grant  was  but  two  years  old,  his  father 
one  day  "took  him  in  his  arms  and  carried  him  through 
the  village  for  the  purpose  of  giving  young  Ulysses  some 
fresh  air  and  also  allowing  him  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  a 
little  martial  music  in  connection  with  a  "  public  parade  " 
being  given  by  the  villagers  at  the  time. 

A  young  gentleman  of  military  bearing  soon  "  sighted  " 
the  "  coming  General "  and  was  seized  by  the  strange  in 
fatuation  of  trying  the  effect  of  a  pistol  shot  on  young 
Ulysses'  ears.  After  due  consultation,  the  father  consented, 
though  as  he  said,  "  the  child  had  never  seen  a  gun  or  pistol 
in  his  life." 

The  young  gentleman  now  presented  his  loaded  pistol 
and  the  baby-fingers  were  accordingly  pressed  upon  the* 
trigger  and  he  was  told  to  "  pull  away,"  when  the  weapon 
was  quickly  discharged  with  a  tremendous  bang  ! 

The  little  fellow  exhibited  no  alarm  whatever,  neither 
winking  nor  dodging,  but  presently  pushed  the  pistol  away, 
a  17 


18          STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

and  called  out  in  his  childish  way  :  "  Fick  it  again,  fick  it 

again" 

The  wondering  villagers,  we  are  credibly  informed,  de 
tected  the  future  warrior  in  the  marvelous  composure 
which  young  Grant  exhibited  on  this,  his  first  experience 
"  under  fire." 


General    Grant's    Early   Love    for    Horses  — His    Experience    in 

"Breaking  In"    a  Colt— He   Masters    "The   Ribbons" 

in  His  Ninth  Year. 

From  General  Grant's  father  we  learn  that  young  Ulysses 
first  and  "  ruling  passion,"  almost  from  the  time  he  could 
"  go  alone,"  was  for  horses. 


ULYSSES  AND  His  COLT. 

"When  only  seven  and  a  half  years  old,  on  a  certain  occa 
sion,  he  took  advantage  of  his  father's  absence  from  home 
for  a  day,  to  harness  up  a  three-year  old  colt,  which  though 
accustomed  to  the  saddle,  had  never  before  had  a  "  collar 
on  !  "  Young  Ulysses  not  only  succeeded  in  harnessing 
the  vigorous  little  horse,  but  he  hitched  him  up  in  first-class 


BOYHOOD.  19 

style  to  a  sled  which  was  on  the  premises,  and  spent  the 
whole  delightful  day  in  hauling  brush.  This  was  a  won 
derful  feat  for  so  small  a  boy. 

By  the  time  he  was  eight,  he  could  ride  a  horse  at  full 
speed  bare-back  and  standing  on  one  foot  ;  at  eight  and  a 
half  years,  he  was  a  regular  "  driver  "  in  all  senses  of  that 
word,  hauling  wood  for  his  father  and  making  himself  gen 
erally  useful ;  and  at  ten  years  of  age  we  find  him  in  charge 
of  a  "  spanking  pair  "  of  horses  which,  on  a  certain  occa 
sion,  he  drove  forty  miles  down  to  Cincinnati,  all  alone,  re 
turning  with  a  full  load  of  cash-paying  customers! 

In  the  words  of  his  father,  "  Whatever  he  undertook  to 
ride  he  rode"  and  nothing  could  shake  him  off.  He  early 
began  to  break  horses  himself  and  developed  a  wonderful 
faculty  for  teaching  them  to  "pace  " — a  knack  which  would 
have  given  him  plenty  of  work  from  the  neighbors,  if  he 
had  not  considered  it  rather  degrading  to  do  it  for  money 
and  accordingly  he  refused  to  accommodate  them. 


Young  Grant's   First  Victory— He  Accepts  a   Ring-master's  Chal 
lenge   to   Ride   the   "Circus   Pony" — An  Exciting 
Occasion  to   Everybody  but  Grant. 

An  anecdote  is  dropped  by  the  paternal  gossip,  which 
deserves  to  be  preserved  as  a  graphic  description  of  a  scene 
through  which  many  smart  lads  have  passed,  and  as  indi 
cating  in  this  particular  instance  some  of  that  pluck,  and 
tenacity  of  will,  which  distinguished  the  "Wilderness  cam 
paign. 

"  Once,  when  he  was  a  boy,  a  show  came  along,  in  which 
there  was  a  mischievous  pony,  trained  to  go  round  the 
ring  like  lightning;  and  he  was  expected  to  throw  any  boy 
that  attempted  to  ride  him. 


20  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

"'Will  any  boy  come  forward  and  ride  this  pony?' 
shouted  the  ring-master. 

"  Ulysses  stepped  forward,  and  mounted  the  pony. 

"  The  performance  began.  Round  and  round  and  round 
the  ring  went  the  pony,  faster  and  faster,  making  the  great 
est  effort  to  dismount  the  rider;  but  Ulysses  sat  as  steady 
as  if  he  had  grown  to  the  pony's  back. 

"  Presently  out  came  a  large  monkey,  and  sprang  up  be 
hind  Ulysses.  The  people  set  up  a  great  shout  of  laughter, 
and  on  the  pony  ran;  but  it  all  produced  no  effect  on  the 
rider. 

"  Then  the  ring-master  made  the  monkey  jump  up  on  to 
Ulysses'  shoulders,  standing  with  his  feet  on  his  shoulders, 
and  with  his  hands  holding  on  to  his  hair. 

"At  this,  there  was  another  and  a  still  louder  shout;  but 
not  a  muscle  of  Ulysses'  face  moved;  there  was  not  a  tre 
mor  of  his  nerves. 

"A  few  more  rounds,  and  the  ring-master  gave  it  up;  he 
had  come  across  a  boy  that  the  pony  and  the  monkey  both 
could  not  dismount," 

Young  Grant  dismounted  amid  the  deafening  plaudits 
of  the  multitude  calm,  cool  and  conscious  of  victory! 


VICTORY ! 


BOYHOOD.  .  21 

General   Grant  at  School — How  He   Mastered   His  Lessons— The 
Young  Leader— His    Early  Character. 

Young  Grant  at  school  supplied  his  want  of  quickness 
by  a  dogged  diligence  which  demanded,  in  every  case,  the 
"  unconditional  surrender "  of  his  tasks.  He  always  at 
tacked  a  knotty  question  with  "  slow,  but  sure,"  approaches. 
"When  temporarily  thwarted  always  "  fought  it  out  on  that 
line,"  until  he  eventually  won. 

It  is  said  on  good  authority,  that  he  told  his  teacher  one 
day — in  view  no  doubt  of  some  stupendous  undertaking — 
that  the  word  "  can't "  was  not  in  his  dictionary. 

He  frequently  committed  to  memory  whole  pages  which 
he  did  not  understand,  with  the  comfortable  assurance  that 
they  would  not  be  wasted  upon  his  maturer  intellect.  In 
fact,  the  genuine  manliness  of  his  feelings,  and  the  dignity 
of  his  deportment,  when  a  boy  at  school,  prognosticated  the 
sterling  characteristics  which  the  man  veils  under  a  charit 
able  spirit  and  an  unpretending  demeanor. 

It  is  said  that  an  astounded  phrenologist,  who,  during 
these  early  days,  on  a  certain  occasion,  while  manipulating 
the  young  General's  cranium,  exclaimed  with  prophetic 
emphasis  :  "  You  need  not  be  surprised,  if  at  some  day 
this  boy  fills  the  Presidential  chair." 

As  a  boy  "  out  of  school "  young  Grant  seems  to  have 
been  as  modest,  retiring,  and  reticent  as  he  has  been  in  his 
subsequent  career;  yet  lie  always  manifested  a  proper 
amount  of  confidence  in  his  ability  to  do  any  thing  which 
was  to  be  expected  of  a  boy  of  his  size  and  years.  Among 
boys  he  was  regarded  as  a  leader;  yet,  without  forwardness, 
he  rather  sought  the  company  of  older  persons. 

His  disposition  was  peaceable,  yet  would  stand  no  im 
position  upon  what  he  considered  his  rights;  and  when 
forced  into  a  corner  could  fight  as  well  as  any  one.  The 
current  story  of  his  "flogging  a  captain"  is,  on  his  own 


22  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

authority,  untrue;  and  it  is  said  by  those  who  know  him 
well,  that  he  never  had  a  personal  controversy  in  his  life. 
'Profanity  was  a  vice  which  he  was  peculiarly  free  from, 
both  in  boyhood  and  in  his  subsequent  military  career. 


A   Remarkable  Incident   of  Young   Grant's   Integrity — He   Buys  a 
Horse   for   His  Father — All  About  the   Bargain. 

A  popular  story  which  was  current  among  young  Grant's- 
companions,  and  which  to  a  remarkable  degree  illustrates 
his  honesty,  was  concerning  a  horse  trade  in  which  he  was 
engaged. 

It  appears  that  when  he  was  about  twelve  years  of  age, 
his  father  sent  him  to  purchase  a  horse  of  a  farmer,  named 
Ralston,  who  resided  some  short  distance  in  the  country. 
The  elder  Grant  wanted  the  horse,  but  still  desired  to  get 
it  as  cheaply  as  possible.  Before  starting,  the  old  gentle 
man  impressed  upon  young  Grant's  mind  that  fact  in  these 
words  : 

u  Ulysses,  when  you  see  Mr.  Ralston,  tell  him  ,.  have 
sent  you  to  buy  his  horse,  and  oiler  him  fifty  dollars  for  it. 
If  he  will  not  take  that,  offer  him  fifty-five  dollars;  and 
rather  than  you  should  come  away  without  the  horse,  you 
had  better  give  him  sixty  dollars." 

Off  started  the  boy,  and  in  due  course  of  time  arrived 
at  Ralston's  farm-house.  He  had  carefully  studied  over 
in  his  mind  his  father's  instructions,  and  of  course  intended 
to  do  as  his  parent  had  told  him.  Mr.  Ralston,  however, 
threw  him  off  his  balance,  by  putting  the  following  direct 
but  natural  question  to  him  : 

"  How  much  did  your  father  tell  you  to  give  for  him?" 

Young  Ulysses  had  always  had  it  impressed  upon  his- 
mind  by  Ins  mother,  that  the  truth  must  be  spoken  at  all 
times,  and  therefore  he  replied  : 


24:  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  OJRANT. 

"Why,  father  told  me  to  offer  you  fifty  dollars  at  first; 
and  that  if  that  would  not  do,  to  give  you  fifty-five  dollars; 
and  rather  than  come  away  without  the  horse  I  was  to  pay 
sixty  dollars." 

Of  course  Ralston  could  not  sell  the  horse  for  less  than 
sixty  dollars. 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that,"  'returned  Grant,  "for,  on  looking 
at  the  horse,  I  have  determined  not  to  give  more  than  fifty 
dollars  for  it,  although  father  said  I  might  give  sixty.  You 
may  take  fifty  if  you  like,  or  you  may  keep  the  horse." 

Ulysses  rode  the  horse  home! 


How    General    Grant   Received    the    Name    "  Hiram    Ulysses " — 

And   How  the   Change   was   Made   to   "  Ulysses 

Simpson"— And  then  to  "Uncle  Sam." 

According  to  the  testimony  of  the  father,  the  maternal 
grandmother  of  General  Grant  was  greatly  fascinated  with 
the  exploits  of  the  wily  Ithican  chief  who  introduced  the 
famous  wooden  horse  into  Troy  and  wa.s  anxious  that  the 
first  born  of  Jesse's  house  should  be  named  Ulysses. 

The  maternal  grandfather,  it  is  said  was  equally  capti 
vated  with  Tyrian  history  and  was  determined  that  the 
child  should  be  christened  Hiram. 

This  family  jar  was  finally  compromised  by  bestowing 
upon  the  coming  General  the  names  of  both  of  the  old 
people's  heroes  ;  and  he  was  accordingly  called  Iliram 
Ulysses. 

This  name  he  bore  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age, 
at  which  time  he  was  recommended  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  by  the  Hon.  Thomas  L.  Hamer,  a  member  of  Congress 
from  Ohio,  for  a  cadetship  in  West  Point,  by  the  name  of 
Ulysses  Simpson  Grant. 

This  serious  mistake  on  the  part  of  the  Congressman,  it 


BOYHOOD.  25 

Is  said,  was  occasioned  by  the  fact  that  Simpson  was  the 
maiden  name  of  General  Grant's  mother  and  also  the 
Christian  name  of  one  of  the  General's  brothers.  But  from 
whatever  cause  the  mistake  may  have  occurred,  to  Ulysses 
S.  Grant  the  commission  was  issued,  appointing  him  to  the 
Military  Academy,  and  by  this  name  he  was  entered  upon 
its  roster. 

Young  Grant  afterwards  applied  to  the  authorities  at 
West  Point  and  the  Secretary  of  War  to  have  the  blunder 
corrected,  but  his  companions  and  the  eternal  fitness  of 
things  were  against  him.  His  request  was  unnoticed. 
His  comrades  at  once  adopted  the  initials  U.  S.  in  his 
behalf  and  christened  him  "  Uncle  Sam"  a  nickname  that 
he  never  lost;  and  when  he  graduated  in  1843,  twenty- 
first,  in  a  class  of  thirty-nine,  his  commission  of  brevet 
second  lieutenant  and  his  diploma,  both  styled  him 
Ulysses  S.  Grant,  by  which  name  he  has  since  been  known. 


Remarkable  Instance  of  Grant's  Ganeralship  at  the  Age  of  Twelve 

— How  He    Loaded   Big   Logs    all  Alone — 

His    Father's    Surprise, 

An  anecdote  is  related  by  General  Grant's  father  concern 
ing  young  Ulysses  which  aptly  illustrates  the  "  grit"  of  the 
"  coming  General,"  as  well  as  the  faculty  of  adaptation  of 
circumstances. 

Mr.  Grant,  who  had  a  contract  for  building  the  Brown 
County  jail,  had  need  of  a  number  of  logs  some  fourteen 
feet  in  length,  and  Ulysses,  then  in  his  twelfth  year,  vol 
unteered  to  drive' the  team  until  the  logs  were  hauled,  if 
his  father  would  purchase  a  certain  horse  which  he  thought 
an  excellent  match  for  another  which  he  then  owned. 

His  father  consented  and  young  Ulysses  began  work. 

One  cloudy  April  morning  when  rain  was  threatened, 


26  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

Ulysses  went  as  usual  for  his  load.  After  a  long  trip,  he 
came  back  with  his  logs,  and  as  Jesse — his  father — and 
the  hired  man  were  unloading  them,  he  remarked  : 

"  Father,  it's  hardly  worth  while  for  me  to  go  again  to 
day;  none  of  the  hewers  are  in  the  woods.  There  is  only 
one  load  left;  if  I  get  that  now  there  will  be  none  for  me 
to  haul  in  the  morning."' 

"  Where  are  the  hewers  ?" 

"  At  home,  I  suppose.  They  haven't  been  in  the  woods 
this  morning." 

"  Who  loaded  these  logs?" 

"  Dave  and  me."     (Dave  was  the  name  of  the  horse.) 

"What  do  you  mean  by  telling  me  such  a  story?"  asked 
the  clear-headed  father. 

"  It  is  the* truth.  I  loaded  the  lo^s  with  no  help  but 
Dave's." 

It  was  the  truth.  For  this  hauling,  the  body  of  the 
wagon  had  been  removed  and  the  logs  were  carried  upon 
the  axles.  It  was  a  hard  job  for  several  men  to  load. 
They  would  take  the  wheels  off  on  one  side,  let  the  axles 
down  to  the  ground,  lift  on  the  squared  logs  with  hand 
spikes,  then  pry  the  axles  up  with  levers,  and  put  the  wheels 
on  again.  That  a  mere  boy  could  do  this  alone  was  incred 
ible,  and  Jesse  inquired  : 

"  How  in  the  world  did  you  load  the  wagon  ?" 

"  Well,  Father,  you  know  that  sugar  tree  we  saw  yester 
day  which  is  half  fallen,  and  lies  slanting,  with  the  top 
caught  in  another  tree,  I  hitched  Dave  to  the  logs,  and 
drew  them  up  on  that;  then  backed  the  wagon  up  to  it  and 
hitched  Dave  to  them  again,  and  one  at  a  time,  snaked 
them  forward  upon  the  axles." 

The  ingenious  lad  had  used  the  trunk  of  the  fallen  tree, 
as  an  inclined  plane,  and  after  hauling  the  logs  upon  it,  so 
that  they  nearly  balanced,  had  drawn  them  endwise  upoa 


•DAVE.' 
27. 


28  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

his  wagon  underneath  with  little  difficulty.     The  feat  made 
him  quite  celebrated  in  the  neighborhood. 

It  indicates  a  tendency  to  supplement  physical  weakness 
by  head  work.  It  is  one  of  the  most  significant  incidents 
related  of  his  boyhood.  It  strongly  foreshadows  a  disposi 
tion  not  to  be  thwarted  by  trifles ;  a  precocious  superiority 
to  mere  obstacles,  which,  when  fully  developed,  might  be 
expected  to  overcome  those  difficulties  which  are  pro 
nounced  insurmountable. 


General  Grant's  Birth  and  Early  Surroundings— A  Noble  Line  of 
Ancestry— His  Father  and  Mother. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  born  April  27,  1822,  in  an  humble 
frame  cottage,  at  Point  Pleasant,  Clermont  County,  Ohio, 
n-ear  the  mouth  of  the  Miami  on  the  northern  bank  of 
the  Ohio  River,  about  twenty-five  miles  above  Cincinnati. 

Here  he  grew  up  to  years  of  discretion  amid  the  change 
ful  skies,  variable  climate  and  productions,  of  the  northern 
half  of  the  temperate  zone.  His  first  tottering  steps  were 
unquestionably  bounded  by  his  father's  tannery,  which  is 
presumed  to  have  been  within  convenient  distance  of  the 
paternal  abode.  lie  peers  with  the  big  eyes  of  wonder 
into  the  curious  mysteries  of  the  tan  vats  •  he  gazes, 
doubtless  with  mute  astonishment  at  the  towering  steam- 

O 

boat,   puffing    spasmodically  as  its  huge  mass  plows  the 
Ohio. 

Like  innumerable  other  boys,  with  more  or  less  fancy 
his  uninitiated  eye  begins,  gradually,  to  admire  the  shifting 
scenery  of  the  heavens  as  sinking  day  brings  out  the  more 
splendid  pageant  of  the  night,  until  the  stars  in  turn,  one 
by  one,  fade  away  before  the  purpling  dawn.  lie  exults 
in  the  voice  of  spring,  the  song  of  birds,  the  green  luxu 
riance  of  summer,  the  golden  abundance  of  the  harvest,  the 


BOYHOOD.  29 

masquerading  attire  of  the  autumnal  forests.  He  pines, 
too,  perhaps  at  the  falling  leaf,  the  wailing  winds,  the 
naked  tree-tops,  the  morning  frosts,  the  white  fall  of  snow 
descending  on  the  fading  landscape,  and  the  dancing  and 
murmuring  waters  which  he  loved,  wrapped  in  the  chilling 
embrace  of  the  ice. 

General  Grant  is  connected  with  a  noble  line  of  ancestry. 
He  is  descended  from  an  ancient  and   worthy  Connecticut 


BIRTHPLACE  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

family,  the  immigrant  ancestor  of  which  was  Matthew 
Giant,  who  came  over  from  England  in  1630,  in  the  ship 
"  Mary  and  John,"  and  with  his  fellow-passengers  founded 
the  town  of  Dorchester  (now  South  Boston),  Mass. 

In  1636  he  was  one  of  the  company  who  settled  the 
town  of  Windsor,  Connecticut,  and  was  an  active  and 
prominent  citizen,  being  a  notable  land  surveyor,  a  faithful 


30  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

and  remarkably  conscientious  town  clerk  and  an  influential 
member  of  the  Church. 

His  great-grandson,  Noah  Grant,  located  at  Tolland, 
Connecticut,  and  his  son  Noah  removed  to  Coventry,  about 
1750,  and  was  a  Captain  in  the  Crown  Point  Expedition 
of  1755,  in  which  he  and  his  brother  Solomon  were  killed. 
His  son  Noah,  General  Grant's  grandfather,  was  a  lieuten 
ant  of  militia  at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  in  1776,  and 
served  in  the  Continental  Army  during  the  entire  Revolu 
tionary  War. 

He  removed  from  Coventry  to  Westmoreland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  about  1787,  and  there  married,  as  his  second 
wife,  Rachel  Kelley,  in  1791.  His  son  by  this  second 
marriage,  Jesse  Root  Grant,  the  father  of  the  hero,  was 
born  in  Westmoreland  County,  in  1794,  from  whence,  when 
he  was  five  years  of  age,  the  family  removed  to  what  is 
now  Columbiana  County,  Ohio  ;  and  again,  when  he  was 
ten  years  old,  to  Deerfield,  Portage  County,  in  the  Western 
Reserve. 

His  father  dying  the  next  year,  1805,  the  family  became 
somewhat  scattered  ;  and  during  the  War  of  1812,  Jesse, 
with  his  mother  and  the  younger  children,  removed  to 
Maysville,  Kentucky  ;  the  northern  part  of  Ohio  being 
unsafe  for  women  and  children,  on  account  of  the  dangers 
from  the  British  and  their  Indian  allies.  In  1815,  being 
then  of  age,  he  established  himself  at  Ravenna,  Ohio,  in 
the  tanning  business,  to  which  he  had  served  a  full  appren 
ticeship.  Driven  from  thence  in  1820  by  the  prevalence 
of  the  fever  and  ague,  he  removed  to  Point  Pleasant,  Cler- 
mont  County,  Ohio,  on  the  Ohio  River,  twenty-five  miles 
above  Cincinnati;  and  there,  in  June  of  the  same  year,  he 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  John  Simpson,  who  some 
three  years  previous  had  removed  thither  from  Montgom 
ery  County,  Pennsylvania. 


BOYHOOD. 


31 


Of  good  family,  domestic  in  her  habits,  cheerful  in  dis 
position,  and  possessing  great  firmness  and  steadiness  of 
character,  as  well  as  being  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  she  was  well  fitted  to  be  the  mother 
of  children,  and  to  influence  their  lives  in  the  right  and 
noblest  direction. 

General  Grant,  like  many  other  great  men,  owes  more 
than  the  world  can  ever  tell,  to  the  influence  of  a  noble 
mother. 

The  portrait  of  General  Grant's  mother  has  been  etched ' 
by  her  husband's  hand  in  the  following  words  :  "At 
the  time  of  our  marriage,  Mrs.  Grant  was  an  unpretending 
country  girl — handsome,  but  not  vain.  She  had  previ 
ously  joined  the  Methodist  Church  ;  and  I  can  truthfully 
say  that  it  has  never  had  a  more  devoted  and  consistent 
member.  Her  steadiness,  firmness,  and  strength  of  charac 
ter,  have  been  the  stay  of  the  family  through  life.  She 
was  always  careful  and  most  watchful  over  her  children  ; 
but  never  austere,  and  not  opposed  to  their  free  participa 
tion  in  innocent  amusement." 


32  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

Young    Grant    and   the   Ladies — Escorting    Under    Immense 
Difficulties. 

General  Grant,  when  but  a  boy,  exhibited  a  remarkable- 
self-possession  of  mind.  It  is  related  that  on  one  occa 
sion  when  driving  a  couple  of  lady  passengers  in  a  two- 
horse  wagon  across  a  creek  in  which  he  found  the  water 
very  much  deeper  than  he  had  expected — the  creek  was 
much  swollen — and  finding  suddenly  that  the  horses  were 
swimming  arid  the  water  up  to  a  level  with  the  wagon  box, 
the  ladies  became  greatly  alarmed  and  began  to  scream  at 
the  top  of  their  voices,  but  young  Ulysses,  though  in  a  very 
dangerous  situation  for  himself  and  his  lady  passengers, 
was  not  in  the  least  thrown  oif  his  balance;  he  simply 
looked  over  his  shoulder  as  he  sat  on  the  front  seat  holding 
the  reins,  and  quietly  said  :  "  Don't  speak — 1  will  take 
you  through  safe"  and  he  did. 

In  these  incidents  of  his  boyish  days  we  see  a  gleam  of 
the  same  spirit  that  led  him,  in  after  years,  when  the  whole 
country  were  looking  on,  to  say:  "  I  propose  to  fight  it 
out  on  this  line,  if  it  takes  all  Summer." 


Grape  and  Canister— Fired   at   Random — Many  Interesting  Little 
Things  About  Young  Grant. 

• 

The  first  book  read  by  young  Ulysses — near  the  age  of 
seven — was  the  "  Life  of  General  George  Washington  !" 

It  may  be  said  of  Grant's  genealogy,  as  has  been  said  of 
that  of  another  distinguished  American  :  "  It  discloses  no- 
crime  and  no  disgrace;  but  also  no  eminence." 

Mr.  Everett's  well-turned  allusion  to  the  family  tree  of 
General  Washington  may  equally  be  applied  to  General 


BOYHOOD.  33 

Grant:  "The  glory  he  reflected  UDon   his  ancestors  was 
greater  than  he  could  inherit." 

General  Grant  is  of  Scotch  descent,  and  in  those  qual 
ities  which  distinguish  him  shows  that  the  Scotch  blood 
still  flows  strongly  through  his  veins. 

As  far  as  research  has  been  able  to  recover  the  charac 
teristics  of  the  Grant  family,  they  appear  to  have  been  a 
hard-working,  earnest,  upright,  conscientious  and  law- 
abiding  race. 

Noah  Grant,  the  grandfather  of  Ulysses,  served  with 
distinction  during  the  entire  Revolutionary  "War  and  after 
its  conclusion,  removed  to  Westmoreland  County,  Penn., 
where,  on  January  23,  1794,  General  Grant's  father,  Jesse 
Root  Grant,  was  born. 

The  name  of  General  Grant's  mother  before  marriage 
was  Hanna  Simpson,  daughter  of  John  Simpson,  of  Mont 
gomery  County,  Penn.  In  her  nineteenth  year  she  emi 
grated  with  her  father  to  Clermont  County,  Ohio.  She 
was  married  to  Jesse  Root  Grant,  June  24,  1821. 

Grant's  cadet  warrant  was  made  out  for  "  ULYSSES  SID 
NEY,"  but  he  changed  this  to  ULYSSES  SIMPSON,  in  honor  of 
his  mother. 

When  Gov.  Yates  proposed  sending  the  name  of  Grant 
to  Washington  for  the  appointment  of  Brigadier-General 
— early  in  the  war — Grant  refused  his  consent,  curtly  reply 
ing:  "He  did  not  want  promotion;  he  wanted  to  earn  it." 

It  is  said  of  young  Grant  that  he  never  had  any  personal 
quarrels  with  any  one.     He  was  quiet  and  inoffensive,  but 
was  not  to  be  out-witted  at  a  bargain. 
3 


34  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

Grant's  echication,  previous  to  entering  West  Point,  was 
quite  limited.  It  was  only  in  the  mid-winter  months  that 
his  father  could  spare  him  for  school.  This  was  enough, 
however,  to  implant  a  desire  for  a  more  thorough  educa 
tion,  which  young  Ulysses  obtained  at  the  West  Point 
Militarv  Academy* 

Unlike  Napoleon,  we  hear  nothing  of  young  Grant  "  at 
tacking  snow  forts,"  but  he  developed  very  early  the 
faculty  of  "  overcoming  difficulties  which  would  have 
checked  other  boys." 

If  Napoleon  could  rebuke  the  genealogist  who  was  creat 
ing  for  him  a  pedigree,  with  the  words:  "Friend,  my  patent 
dates  from  Monte  Notte,"  Grant  may  claim  his  American 
nobility  from  Fort  Donelson. 

When  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter  startled  the  nation,  Grant, 
who  was  in  Galena,  said:  "  Uncle  Sam  educated  me  for  the 
army,  and  although  I  have  served  faithfully  through  one 
war,  I  feel  that  I  am  still  a  little  in  debt  for  my  education, 
and  I  am  ready  to  discharge  it  and  put  down  this  rebel 
lion." 

In  his  "  Life  of  General  U.  S.  Grant "  Henry  C.  Deming 
aptly  remarks:  "  I  am  rejoiced  to  find  that  Grant  was  un 
doubtedly  one  of  that  number  of  illustrious  men  whose 
character  received  its  first  and  most  essential  impress 
from  maternal  influence.  In  the  early  and  susceptible 
years  of  childhood,  from  a  mother's  lips,  he  imbibes  those 
simple  yet  fundamental  maxims  and  principles  which  are 
the  enduring  foundation  of  all  wise  conduct  in  life,  all 
good  institutions  in  human  society.  The  love  of  truth, 
the  sentiment  of  honor,  fidelity,  obedience,  constancy,  are 
practical  lessons  alike  for  the  lisping  child,  the  aspiring 


BOYHOOD.  35 

youth,  the  busy  man — at  home,  in  the  school,  on  the 
farm,  at  the  head  of  the  army,  in  the  councils  of  the 
nation.  As  in  the  realm  of  Nature  the  components  of 
the  material  world  are  reduced  by  analysis  to  a  few  simple 
elements,  upholding,  illuminating,  fructifying  the  whole 
universe  by  the  simple  and  omnipresent  influences  of 
gravity,  heat,  and  light,  so  all  the  institutions  of  society, 
and  all  the  relations  of  kindred,  friend,  and  country,  are 
inspired  and  regulated  by  a  few  homely  truths  of  universal 
application. 

Young  Grant's  mental  development  is  an  argument 
favoring  mathematics  as  a  mental  discipline.  He  is  said 
to  have  excelled  only  in  this  branch  of  study. 

There  are  some  men  in  this  world  possessing  immense 
mental  power,  who  yet,  from  inertness,  pass  through  life 
with  poor  success.  Lighter  natures  outstrip  them  in  the 
race  for  wealth  or  position,  and  the  strength  they  really 
possess  is  never  known,  because  it  has  never  been  called 
out.  It  never  is  called  out  by  ordinary  events.  They 
were  made  for  great  emergencies,  and  if  these  do  not  arise, 
they  seem  almost  made  in  vain$  at  least  these  extraordi 
nary  powers  to  be  given  them  in  vain.  G-rant  is  one  of 
these.  He  is  like  a  great  wheel  on  which  mere  rills  of 
water  may  drop  forever  without  moving  it,  or  if  they 
succeed  in  disturbing  its  equilibrium,  only  make  it  accom 
plish  a  partial  revolution.  It  needs  an  immense  body  of 
water  to  make  it  roll,  and  then  it  revolves  with  a  power 
and  majesty  that  awes  the  beholder.  No  slight  obstruc 
tion  can  arrest  its  sweep.  Acquiring  momentum  with  each 
revolution,  it  crushes  to  atoms  everything  thrust  before  it 
to  check  its  motion. 


AT    WEST    POIXT. 

Young  Grant  a  Cadet    at  West   Point— An    Interesting  Account  of 
His  Life  at  that  Institution. 

Young  Grant  entered  the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point  in  June,  1838.  His  first  experience  in  martial  life 
was  in  the  licensed  squad-drill  to  which  the  '•  pleb  "  is 
subjected  by  the  remorseless  company  officers  of  the  cadet 
battalion,  and  in  the  unlicensed  "hazing"  with  which  the 
new  recruit  is  ruthlessly  disciplined  during  his  first  season 
in  camp. 

At  early  dawn  he  is  marched  to  and  fro  with  the  awk 
ward  squad  over  that  famous  plateau,  to  monotonous  "  One, 
two — one,  two,"  which  so  frequently  breaks  in  upon  the 
morning  nap  of  the  guest  at  "Hoe's;"'  and  he  may  esteem 
himself  fortunate  if  he  is  not  rushed  up  the  rugged  road 
to  Fort  Putnam,  at  double-quick,  on  an  empty  stomach. 
When  drill  is  dismissed,  he  betakes  himself,  with  assumed 
composure,  but  with  real  anxiety,  to  the  ambushes,  sur 
prises,  flank  movements,  attacks  in  front  and  rear,  which 
the  senior  cadets  are  preparing  for  him  in  the  camp. 

Life  at  West  Point,  though  attractive  in  its  mere  exter 
nal  aspects,  is  still  more  so  in  its  internal  relations  to  the 
mind  and  character  of  tl^e  national  ward.  He  learns  there 
self-control  and  obedience,  which  are  no  despicable  attain 
ments,  either  for  the  man  or  the  soldier.  With  a  cour><  of 
study  so  difficult  that  it  tasks  all  the  strength,  and  so  va 
ried  that  it  addresses  every  faculty  of  the  mind,  the  student 
has  only  to  be  faithful  to  himself  and  his  opportunities, 
and  he  may  acquire  that  extreme  degree  of  mental  control 


38  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

which  enables  its  fortunate  possessor  to  turn  the  whole  force 
and  volume  of  his  intellect,  with  equal  facility,  upon  any 
subject  and  in  any  direction.  Self-sacrificing  patriotism  is 
imbibed  in  the  atmosphere,  and  fostered  by  all  the  associa 
tions,  of  the  national  school  ;  and  the  genius  of  the  place, 
its  history,  trophies,  mementoes,  fire  the  spirit,  and  mag 
netize  the  soul. 

The  daily  routine  of  cadet-life  is  somewhat  monotonous. 
Drill  and  study  are  the  accustomed  order,  relieved  only 
by  the  evening  dress  parade,  the  inviting  ramble  through 
scenery  charming  alike  by  natural  beauty  and  historic  in 
terest,  the  "  Board  of  Visitors,"  annual  encampments, 
graduations,  and  hops. 

Martial  law  governs  this  military  post ;  and  it  is  an  effi 
cient  curb  upon  habits  of  irregularity  and  dissipation. 
Temperance  and  continence,  within  its  jurisdiction,  forfeit 
their  place  as  virtues;  for  they  are  enforced  upon  the  young 
soldier  by  inexorable  necessit}^  Even  a  stolen  visit  to 
Benny  Havens,  a  rollicking  song  by  stealth,  the  smuggling 
in  per  steamer  of  contraband  packages,  under  the  pains  and 
penalties  of  a  court-martial,  are  too  excruciating  substitutes 
for  genuine  sport  to  be  very  seductive. 

Grant  encounters  the  severe  exactions  of  the  West 
Point  course  with  no  preparatory  education  worthy  of  the 
name.  u  Hasten  slowly "  was  written  on  his  forehead 
early  in  life;  and  those  who  knew  him  best  expected  from 
him  a  persistent  rather  than  a  brilliant  scholarship  in  the 
intellectual  exercises  of  the  institution,  and  decided  supe 
riority  only  in  the  practical  departments  of  military  instmc- 
•tion.  Both  expectations  were  justified  by  his  career  as  a 
cadet. 

Abstract  mathematics,  topographical  engineering,  and 
the  science  of  war,  were  conquered  by  his  characteristic 
tenacity  of  will.  Practical  engineering  succumbed  with 


AT  WEST  POINT.  39 

less  difficulty;  while  infantry,  artillery,  and  cavalry  tactics 
were  easily  mastered. 

He  passed  with  eclat  that  "  bridge  of  sighs,"  the  first 
examination,  and  all  the  subsequent  ones  with  no  dishonor; 
earning  successively  the  rank  of  corporal,  sergeant,  and 
commissioned  officer  of  cadets.  It  is  no  small  test,  both 
of  physical  and  mental  prowers,  to  graduate  at  West  Point. 
Feeble  intellects  yield  to  the  severity  of  the  studies,  and 
feeble  bodies  to  the  hardships  of  the  drill.  Genuine  attain 
ment  only  can  stand  the  searching  ordeal  of  its  four  an 
nual  examinations;  and  the  rules  and  regulations  in  regard 
to  deportment  and  behavior  are  so  trying  to  the  careless 
buoyancy  and  undisciplined  spirit  of  youth,  that  a  diploma 
upon  any  terms  should  be  regarded,  not  as  a  mere  ovation, 
but  a  triumph. 

When  we  consider  that  the  untutored  boy  from  the  woods 
sustained  himself  in  every  trial  of  a  class  from  which  sev 
enty  were  dropped;  that  he  attained  to  the  rank  of  twenty- 
one  in  a  graduating  class  of  thirty-nine,  thus  distancing 
threescore  and  ten  who  entered  the  race,  and  winning  over 
eighteen  who  finally  came  to  the  goal;  when  we  consider, 
also,  that  he  never  lost  position  or  forfeited  class-rank  by 
demerits,  wre  must  yield  to  him  the  credit  of  more  than 
ordinary  capacity  and  subordination.  Of  how  few  who 
have  entered  West  Point  can  so  much  be  said ! 

The  first  order  which  issues  to  the  graduating  cadet  may 
send  him  to  some  embryo  territory  in  the  West,  and  impose 
upon  him  at  once  the  important  duties  of  civil  adminis 
tration  ;  or  it  may  despatch  him  to  the  frontiers,  within 
cannon-shot  of  a  foreign  flag,  wrhere  he  mayr  be  called  to 
adjudicate,  upon  principles  of  public  law,  the  perplexing 
questions  which  frequently  arise  between  contiguous 
powers. 

During   his  career  as  an  officer,  he  can  hardly  escape 


40  8TOPJKS  AND  SKETCHED  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

being  placed  in  such  relations.  To  prepare  him  for  the 
intelligent  discharge  of  these  important  positions  is  no 
insignificant  part  of  the  "West  Point  course.  He  is,  there 
fore,  taught  French  as  the  language  of  diplomatic  inter 
course,  and  Spanish  as  the  tongue  of  our  Mexican  neigh 
bors.  He  is  indoctrinated  in  the  laws  of  nations,  the 
jurisprudence  of  the  United  States,  and  the  principles  of 
municipal  law.  Tie  is  made  as  familiar  with  the  authorita 
tive  commentaries  of  Kent  and  Wheaton's  "  International 
Code"  as  with  Mahan's  "Field  Fortification "  and  Ben- 
ton's  "  Course  of  Ordnance  and  Gunnery." 

It  is  an  error  to  suppose  that  our  future  officers  are  in 
structed  only  in  what  pertains  to  war  as  a  theory  and  an 
art.  Their  preparation  for  civil  affairs  is  as  thorough  and 
complete  as  that  of  the  student  in  our  colleges,  or  the  law 
yer  in  our  towns.  "With  sapping,  mining,  mortar-practice, 
and  tactics  for  garrison  and  siege,  are  blended  the  logical 
rules  and  theories  by  which  truth  is  eliminated  and  sophis 
tries  detected.  With  the  science  of  war,  which  desolates, 
is  interwoven  the  science  of  morals,  which  renovates  and 
ameliorates  the  world. 

Not  only  chemistry,  which  especially  relates  to  fabri 
cating  the  materiel  of  war,  is  embraced  in  its  course  <>f 
study,  but  astronomy,  mechanics,  physics,  mineralogy,  and 
the  philosophy  of  history. 

With  a  head  stuffed  with  the  learning  of  the  school; 
with  ambition  kindled,  and  patriotism  exalted,  by  the 
genius  of  the  place;  with  a  mind  skilled  to  manoeuvre,  at 
tack,  and  defend;  a  hand  adroit  in  piling  up  redoubts  and 
stockades,  and  in  digging  rifle-pits  and  intrenchments,  and 
apt  in  constructing  fascines,  hurdles,  and  sap  rollers;  with 
all  his  sensibilities  vivid,  all  his  senses  keen,  intent,  ani 
mated,  the  model  of  physical  power  and  activity — Cadet 
Grant  is  launched  into  the  storm v  ocean  of  life. 


AT  WEST  POINT.  41 

Anecdote  of  Grant  at  West  Point. 

The  following  incident  occurred  while  young  Grant  was 
serving  his  first  year  as  a  cadet  of  the  Military  Academy 
at  West  Point,  and  is  a  very  good  illustration  of  the  cool 
ness  of  his  disposition. 

It  is  related  bv  his  father   in  his  interesting  reminis- 

ii 

cences  of  the  early  life  of  his  distinguished  son,  published 
in  the  New  York  Ledger. 

"As  is  well  known,  it  is  the  practice  at  West  Point  to 
get  some  rig,  run,  or  joke  on  every  new  comer.  Ulysses 
took  a  letter  of  introduction  to  a  cadet,  who  told  him  all 
this,  and  put  him  on  his  guard.  In  the  course  of  the  first 
night,  one  of  the  cadets,  dressed  as  an  officer,  entered  the 
room  where  Ulysses  and  his  chum  were  sleeping,  and  told 
them  that  one  of  the  rules  of  the  institution  required 
that  a  task  should  be  given  them,  to  see  how  they  would 
get  through  it,  while  laboring  under  the  excitement  con 
sequent  upon  their  first  admission.  He  then,  producing  a 
book,  ordered  that,  before  morning,  they  should  each  com 
mit  to  memory  a  lesson  of  twenty  pages.  f  All  right,  all 
right,'  responded  Ulysses;  and  as  soon  as  the  pretended 
officer  had  withdrawn,  he  went  quietly  back  to  bed,  while 
his  companion  sat  up  and  studied  all  night.  Of  course, 
the  recitation  has  not  yet  been  called  for." 

Grant's  career  at  West  Point  was  uneventful,  his  demer 
its,  as  his  father  says,  being  mostly  u  of  a  trivial  character, 
such  as  not  having  his  coat  buttoned,  or  his  shoes  tied  right, 
or  something  of  that  kind."  His  progress  was  of  the*  slow 
and  sure  kind  ;  holding  firmly  on  to  all  he  acquired,  but 
having  nothing  of  that  dashing  brilliancy  which  is  thought 
so  much  of  by  collegiates.  He  did  not,  like  many,  only 
study  to  pass  die  examiner,  and  then  forget  what  he  had 
learned.  Even  if  his  seat  was  below  those  of  some  others 
in  his  classes,  at  the  end  of  each  year  it  would  be  found 


42  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

that  his  education  was  of  a  far  more  solid  and  substantial 
nature  than  that  of  several  of  his  class-mates  who  stood 
higher  in  grades.  Experience,  however,  has  demonstrated 
that  the  rank  attained  at  a  Military  Academy,  or  at 
college,  affords  a  very  uncertain  indication  of  the  future 
success  or  usefulness  of  the  man. 


What   a   Fellow   Comrade    Says    of  Young   Grant   at   West   Point 
— A   Splendid   Record. 

A  gentleman  who  was  a  comrade  of  young  Grant  for  t\vo 
years  at  West  Point  Military  Academy,  says  : 

I  remember  Grant  as  a  plain,  common-sense,  straight 
forward  youth;  quiet,  calm,  thoughtful,  and  unaggressive; 
shunning  notoriety;  quite  contented,  while  others  were 
grumbling;  taking  to  his  military  duties  in  a  very  business 
like  manner;  not  a  prominent  man  in  the  corps,  but  re 
spected  by  all,  and  very  popular  with  his  friends.  His 
sobriquet  of  Uncle  Sam  was  given  to  him  there,  where 
every  good-fellow  has  a  nickname,  from  these  very  quali 
ties;  indeed,  he  was  a  very  uncle-like  sort  of  a  youth. 

He  was  then  and  always  an  excellent  horseman,  and  his 
picture  rises  before  me  as  I  write,  in  the  old  torn  coat 
(riding-jackets,  if  we  remember  rightly,  had  not  then  been 
issued,  and  the  cadets  always  wore  their  seediest  rig  into 
the  sweat  and  dust  of  the  riding  drill),  obsolescent  leather 
gig-tpp,  loose  riding  pantaloons,  with  spurs  buckled  over 
them,  going  with  his  clanking  sabre  to  the  drill-hall.  He 
exhibited  but  little  enthusiasm  in  any  thing;  his  best 
standing  was  in  the  mathematical  branches,  and  their  ap 
plication  to  tactics  and  military  engineering. 

Tf  we  again  dwell  upon  the  fact  that  no  one,  even  of  his 
most  intimate  friends,  dreamed  of  a  great  future  for  him, 
it  is  to  add  that,  looking  back  now,  we  must  confess  that 


44:  ST01UES  AKD  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRAXT. 

the  possession  of  many  excellent  qualities,  and  the  entire 
absence  of  all  low  and  mean  ones,  establish  a  logical 
sequence  from  first  to  last,  and  illustrate,  in  a  novel  man 
ner,  the  poet's  fancy  about — 

"  The  baby  figures  of  the  giant  mass 
Of  things  to  come  at  large," 

the  germs  of  those  qualities  which  are  found  in  beautiful 
combination  in  Wordsworth's  "Happy  Warrior  :" 

• 

"  The  generous  spirit  who,  when  brought 
Among  the  tasks  of  real  life,  hath  wrought 
Upon  the  plan  that  pleased  his  infant  thought." 

And  at  this  point  of  view,  as  we  find  the  Western  boy, 
after  the  compacting,  instructing,  developing  processes  of 
West  Point,  coming  forth  a  man,  ready  for  the  stern  reali 
ties  of  American  life,  we  may  pause  to  point  him  out  to 
our  American  youth  as  an  example  henceforth  to  be  fol 
lowed;  then,  at  now,  a  character  which,  in  the  words  of  a 
friend,  "  betrayed  no  trust,  falsified  no  word,  violated  no 
rights,  manitested  no  tyranny,  sought  no  personal  aggran 
dizement,  complained  of  no  hardship,  displayed  no  jealousy, 
oppressed  no  subordinate;  but  in  whatever  sphere,  pro 
tected  every  interest,  upheld  his  flag,  and  was  ever  known 
by  his  humanity,  sagacity,  courage,  and  honor." 

What  more  can  be  claimed  of  any  young  man  ( 


AT  WEST  POINT.  45 

General    Grant's    Class-mates   at  West   Point  — Who  They   Were, 

and  What  They  Have  Done— An  Interesting 

Biographical  Series. 

General  Grant  graduated  at  West  Point  the  twenty-first 
in  his  class,  June  30,  1843,  with  thirty-nine  class-mates. 

The  grade  and  brief  biography  of  each  is  as  follows: 

The  cadet  who  stood  first  in  the  class  was  "William  Ben 
jamin  Franklin,  who  entered  the  Topographical  Engineer 
Corps;  and  having  passed  through  a  series  of  adventures 
under  various  commanders  was,  at  the  beginning  of  1804, 
the  general  commanding  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps,  in 
the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  under  General  Banks. 

The  names  of  the  next  three  graduates  do  not  now  appear 
in  the  Army  List  of  the  United  States. 

"Win.  F.  Raynohls  ranked  fifth  in  the  class,  entered  the 
infantry  service,  and  was  appointed  an  aide  on  the  staff  of 
General  Fremont,  commanding  the  Mountain  Department, 
with  the  rank  of  colonel,  from  the  31st  of  March,  1862. 

The  next  graduate  was  Isaac  F.  Quinby.  He  had  entered 
the  artillery  service,  and  had  been  professor  at  West  Point? 
but  had  retired  to  civil  life.  The  rebellion,  however, 
brought  him  from  his  retirement,  and  he  went  to  the  field 
at  the  head  of  a  regiment  of  Xew  York  volunteers.  He 
afterward  became  a  brigadier-general  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

Eoswell  S.  Eipley,  the  author  of  "  The  War  with  Mex 
ico,"  stood  seventh;  but  his  name  does  not  now  appear 
in  the  official  Army  Register  of  the  United  States,  as  he 
had  attached  himself  to  the  rebel  cause. 

The  next  graduate  was  John  James  Peck,  who  entered 
the  artillery  service,  and  was,  on  January  1,  1864,  the  com 
mander  of  the  district  of  and  army  in  Xorth  Carolina,, 
which  then  formed  a  portion  of  General  Butler's  Depart 
ment. 


40  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

John  P.  Johnstone,  the  daring  artillery  lieutenant  who 
fell  gallantly  at  Contreras,  Mexico,  was  the  next  graduate. 

G-eneral  Joseph  Jones  Reynolds  was  the  next  in  grade. 
This  officer  had  gained  great  credit,  while  in  the  army,  as 
a  professor  of  sciences,  but  had  resigned  some  time  when 
the  rebellion  broke  out.  lie  was,  however,  in  1861,  again 
brought  forward  as  a  general  of  three-months  volunteers, 
under  General  McClellan,  in  Western  Virginia;  was  after 
ward  commissioned  by  the  President;  and  latterly  became 
attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  served  on 
the  staff  of  the  general  commanding  that  army,  with  the 
rank  of  major-general,  until  General  Grant  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  military  division  embracing  the  Departments 
of  Ohio,  Tennessee,  and  Cumberland,  when  he  was  trans 
ferred  to  New  Orleans. 

The  eleventh  graduate  was  James  Allen  Hardie,  who, 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  became  an  Assistant 
Adjutant-General  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  the 
rank  of  colonel. 

Henry  F.  Clarke  stood  twelfth,  entered  the  artillery  ser 
vice,  gained  brevets  in  Mexico,  and  became  chief  commis 
sary  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  during  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion,  with  the  rank  of  colonel. 

Lieutenant  Booker,  the  next  in  grade,  died  while  in  ser 
vice  at  San  Antonio,  Texas,  on  June  26,  1849. 

The  fourteenth  graduate  might  have  been  a  prominent 
officer  of  the  United  States  Army,  had  he  not  deserted  the 
cause  of  his  country,  and  attached  himself  to  the  rebels, 
lie  had  not  even  the  excuse  of  "  going  with  his  State,"  for 
he  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  was  appointed  to  the 
army  from  that  State.  His  name  is  Samuel  G.  French, 
major-general  of  the  rebel  army. 

The  next  graduate  was  Lieutenant  Theodore  L.  Chad- 
bourne,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Resacade  laPalma, 


AT  WEST  POINT.  47 

on  May  9, 1846,  after  distinguishing  himself  for  his  bravery 
at  the  head  of  his  command. 

Christopher  Colon  Augur,  one  of  the  commanders  of 
the  Department  of  Washington,  and  major-general  of  vol 
unteers,  was  the  next  in  grade. 

We  now  come  to  another  renegade.  Franklin  Gardner, 
a  native  of  New  York,  and  an  appointee  from  the  State  of 
Iowa,  graduated  seventeenth  in  General  Grant's  class.  At 
the  time  of  the  rebellion  he  deserted  the  cause  of  the 
United  States  and  joined  the  rebels.  He  was  disgracefully 
dropped  from  the  rolls  of  the  United  States  Army,  on  May 
7,  1861,  became  a  major-general  in  the  rebel  service,  and 
had  to  surrender  his  garrison  at  Port  Hudson,  July  9,1863, 
through  the  reduction  of  Yicksburgby  his  junior  graduate, 
U.  S.  Grant. 

Lieutenant  George  Stevens,  who  was  drowned  in  the 
passage  of  the  Kio  Grande,  May  18,  1846,  was  the  next 
graduate. 

The  nineteenth  graduate  was  Edmund  B.  Holloway,  of 
Kentucky,  \vlio  obtained  a  brevet  at  Contreras,  and  was  a 
captain  of  infantry  in  the  United  States  regular  army  at 
the  commencement  of  the  rebellion.  Although  his  State 
remained  in  the  Union,  he  threw  up  his  commission  on 
May  14,  1861,  and  joined  the  rebels. 

The  graduate  that  immediately  preceded  General  Grant 
was  Lieutenant  Lewis  Neill,  who  died  on  January  13,  1850, 
while  in  service  at  Fort  Croghan,  Texas. 

GENERAL  GRANT  was  the  twenty-first  graduate. 

Joseph  H.  Potter,  of  Xew  Hampshire,  graduated  next 
after  the  hero  of  Yicksburg.  During  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  he  became  a  colonel  of  volunteers,  retaining  his 
rank  as  captain  in  the  regular  army. 

Lieutenant  Robert  Hazlitt,  who  was  killed  in  the  storm 
ing  of  Monterey,  September  21, 1846,  and  Lieutenant  Ed- 


48  STOUIES  ;1ND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT 

win  Howe,  who  died  while  in  service  at  Fort  Leavemvorth, 
March  31,  1850,  were  the  next  two  graduates. 

Lafayette  BoyerWood,  of  Virginia,  was  the  twenty -fifth 
graduate.  He  is  no  longer  connected  with  the  service, 
Laving  resigned  several  years  before  the  rebellion. 

The  next  graduate  wTas  Charles  S.  Hamilton  who,  for 
some  time  commanded,  as  major-general  of  volunteers,  a 
district  under  General  Grant,  who  at  that  time  was  chief 
of  the  Department  of  the  Tennessee. 

Captain  "\Yilliam  K.  Van  Bokkelen,  of  2s  ew  York,  who 
was  casliiered  for  rebel  proclivities,  on  May  8,  1861,  was 
the  next  graduate,  and  was  followed  by  Alfred  St.  Amand 
Crozet,  of  Xew  York,  who  Lad  resigned  the  service  several 
years  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Charles  E.  James,  who  died  at  Sonoma,  Cal.,  on 
June  8,  1849. 

TLe  thirtieth  graduate  was  the  gallant  General  Frederick 
Steele,  who  participated  in  the  Yicksburg  and  Mississippi 
campaigns,  as  division  and  corps  commander  under 
General  Grant,  and  afterward  commanded  the  Army  of 
Arkansas. 

The  next  graduate  was  Captain  Henry  E.  Selden,  of 
Vermont,  and  of  the  Fifth  U.  S.  Infantry. 

General  Eufus  Ingalls,  quartermaster-general  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  graduated  Xo.  32,  and  entered  the 
mounted  rifle  regiment,  but  was  found  more  valuable  in 
the  Quartermaster's  Department,  in  which  he  held  the  rank 
of  major  from  January  12,  1862,  with  a  local  rank  of  brig 
adier-general  of  volunteers  from  May  23,  1863. 

Major  Frederick  T.  Dent,  of  the  Fourth  U.  S.  Infantry, 
and  Major  J.  C.  McFerran,  of  the  Quartermaster's  Depart 
ment,  were  the  next  two  graduates. 

The  thirty-fifth  graduate  was  General  Henry  Moses 
Judah,  who  commanded  a  division  of  the  Twenty-Third 


AT  WEST  POINT.  49 

Army  Corps  during  its  operations  after  the  rebel  cavalry 
general,  John  H.  Morgan,  and  in  East  Tennessee,  during 
the  fall  of  1863. 

The  remaining  four  graduates  were  Norman  Elting, 
who  resigned  the  service  October  29,  1846;  Cave  J.  Gouts, 
who  was  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Conven 
tion  of  California  during  the  year  1849  ;  Charles  G. 
Merchant,  of  Xew  York;  and  George  C.  McClelland,  of 
Pennsylvania,  no  one  of  whom  is  now  connected  with  the 
United  States  Service. 

It  is  very  interesting  to  look  over  the  above  list  to  see 
how  the  twenty-first  graduate  has  outstripped  all  his  seniors 
in  grade,  showing  plainly  that  true  talent  will  ultimately 
make  its  way,  110  matter  how  modest  the  possessor  may  be, 
arid  notwithstanding  all  the  opposition  that  maybe  placed 
in  its  way  by  others.  It  will  be  seen  how  General  Grant 
came  to  command  a  larger  force  and  a  greater  extent  of 
country  than  all  his  thirty-eight  class-mates  put  together, 
and  has  risen  higher  in  the  military  scale  than  any  in  his 
class,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he  did  not  seem  to 
possess  the  same  amount  of  apparent  dashing  ability. 

His  Scotch  blood,  however,  gave  him  a  pertinacity  of 
character  that  enabled  him  to  push  forward  against  all  dif 
ficulties,  and  this  stubborn  perseverance  even  in  the 
midst  of  disappointments  .has  characterized  the  whole  of 
his  life,  civil,  military  and  executive,  When,  however, 
he  found  he  was  on  the  right  track  he  kept  to  it  without 
turning  aside  for  even  a  moment,  and  so  ultimately  be 
came  successful. 
4 


MEXICO. 


General    Grant's     First     Battle  —  Called     From    the     Swamps  of 

Louisiana    to    the    Plains    of    Mexico— At    Palo   Alto 

and   Resaca— Leaping   Into   the    "Ravine   of 

Palms  "—His  Grand  Bayonet  Charge. 

Grant  was  full  second  lieutenant  and  still  attached  to  the 
Fourth  Infantry  when  the  order  reached  him — in  the  re 
mote  swamps  of  Louisiana — "  to  join  the  army  of  occupa 
tion  at  Corpus  Christi."  He  had  been  initiated  in  all  the 
theories  of  war,  cruel  arts  and  mysteries  at  West  Point. 
He  had  conned  her  entangling  maxims,  and  tracked  her 
crimson  footsteps  over  the  desolated  earth;  with  maps  and 
plans  before  him,  and  with  critical  eye  he  had  surveyed 
her  renowned  Aceldemas;  he  had,  as  part  of  his  daily  task, 
analyzed  her  infernal  ingenuity  in  concentrating  and  scat 
tering  armies;  and,  before  models  of  her  most  formidable 
strongholds,  had  sat  down  as  a  besieger,  and  approached, 
stormed,  and  captured  them.  Through  Jomini's animated 
pages  he  had  marched,  counter-marched,  and  halted  at 
points  of  vantage ;  drawn  up  and  extended  lines  of  battle; 
flanked,  and  pierced  the  centre;  and  charged,  vanquished, 
and  pursued — with  Frederick  and  Napoleon.  He  had 
almost  seen  War  in  vision,  and  toyed  with  her  snaky  locks, 
and  played  with  her  thunder-bolts.  Like  a  votary  of  the 
black-art,  he  felt  an  irresistible  impulse  to  utter  the  cabalis 
tic  spell  which  should  usher  him  into  the  visible  presence 
of  the  demon.  In  a  word,  he  had  the  natural  inclination 
of  all  men  who  have  mastered  theories  to  apply  their  prin 
ciples  to  practice, 

50 


TROPICAL  CLIMES. 


52  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

War  was  now  waving  her  torch  along  our  frontiers.  The 
surcharged  clouds  were  lowering  on  the  southwestern  hor 
izon.  Her  birds  of  ill-omen,  snuffing  the  carnage  afar, 
were  gathering  in  from  every  side.  Lines  of  bristling 
bayonets  were  confronting  each  other  on  opposite  banks  of 
the  Rio  Grande. 

He  marched  with  the  army,  March  8,  1846,  to  Fort 
Brown,  and  "  flashed  the  sword,"  which  the  Government 
had  taught  him  to  wield  when  Ringold's  battery  first 
struck  the  staggering  line  of  Mexicans  in  that  prairie- 
thicket  which  gives  to  the  earliest  action  in  the  Mexican 
war  its  name. 

When,  on  the  next  day,  the  stricken,  but  undemoralized 
enemy  rallied  reinforcements  on  a  stronger  position,  and  it 
became  apparent,  as  the  sun  was  declining,  that  cannon 
could  not,  as  on  the  previous  day,  decide  the  contest,  Lieu 
tenant  Grant  was  deployed  as  a  skirmisher,  with  his  regi 
mental  comrades,  towards  the  natural  ditch  in  which  the 
foe  was  intrenched;  and  he  was  on  the  lead  when  the  gal 
lant  Fourth  leaped  into  the  "  ravine  of  palms  "  and  cleared 
it  of  every  hostile  'bayonet! 

When  the  Mexicans  rallied  again,  Grant  charged  with 
that  unwavering  line  of  steel,  which  finally  broke  them 
into  fragments  and  scattered  them  on  the  river.  This  oc 
curred  May  9,  184:6. 

On  the  18th  of  the  same  month,  Grant  crossed  the 
Rubicon — that  is  the  Rio  Grande — and  occupied  Matarnoras 
with  General  Taylor's  column,  while  the  haggard  and  sul 
len  remnant  of  the  hostile  army  was  creeping  slowly  south 
ward. 


IN  MEXICO.  53 

General  Grant's   First   "  Baptism  in  Blood  "—The   American    Col 
umns  Torn  to  Pieces  before  Fort  Teneria — Tunnelling 
Walls  and  Fighting  on  Roofs  of  Houses — 
Grant  "  Foremost  in  the  Ranks." 

On  the*20th  of  August,  184-6,  Grant  finds  himself  on 
that  abrupt  eminence  which  commands  a  prospect  of 
Monterey  from  the  east.  At  his  feet  lies  a  cultivated 
valley,  tessellated  with  the  varied  green  and  yellow  of 
orange  and  acacia  groves,  and  waving  fields  of  corn  and 
sugar-cane,  which  stretch  up  to  the  very  bastions  of  the 
easternmost  works  of  defense.  Beyond  the  forts,  the  sun 
beams  glance  on  the  marble-like  stucco  of  the  cathedral 
and  dwellings  of  the  city,  which  seems  to  be  veiled  even 
from  the  profane  gaze  of  the  northern  barbarians  by  the 
luxuriant  foliage  of  flowering  tropical  trees. 

Behind  all,  rise  heavenward  the  Saddle  arid  Mitre  Moun 
tains  with  their  tremendous  peaks,  abruptly  compared  to 
"  giants  guarding  the  lovely  bower  at  their  feet  and  pre 
pared  to  roll  enormous  rocks  from  their  summits  upon  the 
adventurous  assailants." 

The  morning  of  the  21st  breaks  clear  and  resplendent  ; 
and  Major  Mansfield,  who  is  ia  the  front,  reconnoitreing, 
sends  back  word  that  he  has  discovered  a  point  where  that 
foremost  fortification — Fort  Teneria — is  assailable. 

In  a  moment  Colonel  Garland,  with  two  infantry  regi 
ments,  Bragg's  battery,  and  the  Baltimore  battalion,  is 
descending  the  slope,  followed  by  the  rapt  attention  and 
palpitating  hearts  of  their  comrades  on  the  hill. 

Before  they  had  reached  the  point  designated  by  Mans 
field,  the  citadel  enfilades  them  with  its  fire,  and  a  masked 
battery  in  front  showers  them  with  shot  and  shell.  Fort 
Teneria  meantime  is  silent  but  frowns  like  grim  death. 
On  they  advance,  until  they  can  see  the  eyes  of  the  gun 
ners,  when,  presto,  the  fort  opens,  and  the  assailing  Amer- 


5  t  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

ican  columns,  torn  to  pieces,  are  hurled  into  the  suburbs 
of  the  city,  to  be  massacred  piecemeal  by  musketry  from 
walls  and  housetops. 

Meanwhile  the  Fourth  Infantry,  to  which  Grant  was  at 
tached,  had  been  ordered  to  march  by  the  left  flank  towards 
the  point  of  attack  ;  but  ignorant  of  the  fate  of  their 
comrades,  they  moved  directly  against  the  fort,  when  the 
same  destructive  fire  sweeps  from  the  earth  two  thirds  of 
their  number,  and  scatters  the  survivors  in  dismay. 

Fortunately  for  the  success  of  the  day,  two  companies  of 
Colonel  Garland's  discomfited  storm  ing-party  find  shelter 
on  the  roof  of  a  tannery,  within  musket-range  of  Teneria, 
and,  with  the  sure  aim  of  the  rested  rifle,  pick  off,  one  by 
one,  the  Mexican  gunners.  Under  the  cover  of  repeated 
and  overwhelming  volleys  from  this  "  coigne  of  vantage,'* 
the  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  volunteers  rush  across  an 
intervening  space  of  a  hundred  yards,  and,  with  a  deafen 
ing  war-whoop,  pour  like  angry  billows  up  the  slope,  over 
the  parapet  and  through  the  embrasure. 

The  work  at  the  east  end  is  over  for  the  day,  and  the 
Fourth  Infantry  bivouac  in  Teneria  for  the  night.  AVe 
have  been  thus  particular  in  detailing  this  affair,  because  it 
was  Grant's  first  encounter  with  war  <;  in  all  its  terrors 
clad  "  and  because,  from  his  experience  there  in  both  of  its 
vicissitudes,  and  from  its  frightful  slaughter,  it  may  be 
said  to  have  terminated  his  martial  novitiate  by  a  "  baptism 
of  blood." 

Grant  discovers  at  morning  reveille,  that  Fort  Diablo 
has  been  evacuated  during  the  night,  and  is  now  occupied 
by  the  Mississippi  Volunteers  ;  and  the  cheering  news 
reaches  him  at  breakfast,  that  General  Worth,  by  a  succes 
sion  of  impetuous  assaults,  has  carried  every  fortified  posi 
tion  on  the  western  acclivities.  The  guns  of  the  Bishop's 
Palace  are  now  turned  upon  the  devoted  town  from  the 


IN  MEXICO.  55 

west,  and  those  of  Teneria  and  Diablo  from  the  east;  and, 
simultaneously  from  each  of  these  directions,  the  riflemen 
are  penetrating  the  suburbs,  and  gradually  each  other  and 
the  central  plaza. 

The  assailants  find  every  street  barricaded  with  mason- 
work,  every  wall  pierced  for  musketry,  and  on  every  second 
roof  a  sand-bag  battery.  Crawling  from  roof  to  roof,  bur 
rowing  from  house  to  house,  literally  tunneling  covered 
ways  through  the  solid  walls  of  the  dwellings,  the  sharp 
shooters,  from  opposite  directions  have  arrived  within  four 
blocks  of  each  other;  and  between  the  two,  huddled  around 
the  Cathedral,  is  the  Mexican  garrison. 

This  Cathedral  is  the  Mexican  powder  magazine  and  the 
shells  that  Major  Monroe  now  and  then  lets  fall  within  close 
and  amazingly  dangerous  proximity  soon  called  out  the 
bugle  blast  and  flag  of  truce,  and  on  the  24th  of  Septem 
ber,  Ampudia  capitulates. 


Gen.    Grant's    First    Siege  —  He    Personally    Supervises    Twelve 

Miles  of  Trench  and  Parallel,  from  which  he  Shatters 

the   Enemy's  Redoubts  and  Bastions. 

The  siege  of  Yera  Cruz,  though  of  short  duration,  illu 
strated  many  of  the  most  important  principles  of  engineer 
ing. 

It  was  the  first  siege  in  which  Lieut.  Grant  had  any  ex 
perience.  He  personally  supervised  the  construction  ot 
those  twelve  miles  of  trench  and  parallel,  bristling  with 
eighty-nine  batteries;  that  circle  within  a  circle  of  con 
stantly  advancing  fire,  which,  day  after  day,  closed  in  nearer 
and  nearer  on  wailing  Yicksburg,  until  it  was  slowly 
strangled  by  coils  which  it  was  impotent  either  to  sever  or 
endure — the  first  of  a  soldier  who  afterwards  environed 
Richmond  with  ramparts  even  more  Titan-like  and  irresist- 


5G  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

ible;  bisecting  the  area  of  treason  by  the  one  triumph,  and 
by  the  other  exterminating  rebellion  and  destroying  the 
confederacy. 

The  first  parallel  at  Yera  Cruz  was  drawn  at  a  distance 
of  eleven  hundred  yards,  from  which  a  battery  of  three 
thirty-two  pounders,  and  as  many  Paixhans,  finally  suc 
ceeded  in  demolishing  the  curtain,  and  shattering  the 
redoubts  and  bastions  and  destroying  half  the  houses  on  the 
land  side.  The  bombs  of  the  mortar  batteries  burned  up 
all  the  combustible  houses. 

The  flag  of  truce  appeared  on  the  third  day;  and  negotia 
tions  were  opened,  which  terminated  in  the  surrender  of 
Yera  Cruz  and  San  Juan  d'  Ulloa.  The  capture  of  those 
strongly-fortified  points  will  always  be  memorable  as  the 
first  siege  in  which  General  Grant  so  signally  and  ably 
participated. 


General   Grant's  First    Official    Compliments   as   a   Soldier  — The 
First  "Brevet." 

Grant  was  favorably  noticed  for  his  skill  in  gunnery, 
when  that  cordon  of  earthworks  was  tightening  round  Yera 
Cruz — the  "  Invincible."  He  was  complimented  for  his 
gallantry  at  Cherubusco,  when  the  tete  de  pont  was  carried 
by  the  bayonet  alone. 

He  won  his  brevet  of  "  First  Lieutenant  "  in  those  bloody 
hours  when  Molino  Del  Eey  succumbed  to  the  impetuosity 
of  the  United  States  soldiery;  and  the  full  grade  on  that 
day,  ever  memorable  in  our  annals,  when  the  steep  and 
frowning  heights  of  Chapultepec  were  carried,  and  the 
trembling  city  below  implored  the  mercy  of  our  artillery. 

In  Capt.  Brooks'  report  of  the  operations  of  the  Second 
Artillery  against  Chapultepec,  the  following  paragraph 
occurs  : 


IN  MEXICO.  5? 

"  I  succeeded  in  reaching  the  fort  with  a  few  men.  Here 
Lieut.  U.  S.  Grant  and  a  few  more  men  of  the  Fourth  In 
fantry,  found  me;  and  by  a  joint  movement,  after  an 
obstinate  resistance,  a  strong  field-work  was  carried,  and 
the  enemy's  right  was  completely  turned." 

Major  Lee,  in  his  report  of  operations  against  the  same 
fortress,  mentions  the  same  officer  in  the  following  strain  : 

"  At  the  first  barrier,  the  enemy  was  in  strong  force, 
which  rendered  it  necessary  to  advance  with  caution.  This 
was  done;  and,  when  the  head  of  the  battalion  was  within 
short  musket-range  of  the  barrier,  Lieut.  Grant,  Fourth  In 
fantry,  and  Capt.  Brooks,  Second  Artillery,  with  a  few  men 
of  their  respective  regiments,  by  a  handsome  movement  to 
the  left,  turned  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  and  the  bar 
rier  was  carried.  Lieut.  Grant  behaved  with  distinguished 
gallantry  on  the  13th  and  14th." 

The  following  passage  occurs  in  Col.  Garland's  report  of 
the  same  action  :  "  The  rear  of  the  enemy  had  made  a 
stand  behind  a  breastwork,  from  which  they  were  driven 
by  detachments  of  the  Second  Artillery  under  Capt.  Brooks, 
and  the  Fourth  Infantry  under  Lieut.  Grant,  supported  by 
other  regiments  of  the  division,  after  a  short,  sharp  conflict. 
I  recognized  the  command  as  it  came  up,  mounted  a  how 
itzer  on  the  top  of  a  convent,  which,  under  the  direction 
of  Lieut.  Grant,  Quartermaster  of  the  Fourth  Infantry, 
and  Lieut.  Lendrum,  Third  Artillery,  annoyed  the  enemy 
considerably.  I  must  not  omit  to  call  attention  to  Lieut. 
Grant,  who  acquitted  himself  most  nobly  upon  several 
occasions  under  my  observation." 

"  I  have  again  to  make  acknowledgments  to  Cols.  Gar 
land  and  Clarke,  brigade  commanders,  as  also  to  their 
respective  staffs;  to  S.  Smith,  Haller,  and  Grant,  Fourth 
Infantry,  especially." — Gen.  Worth's  Report  of  Battle  of 
Chapultepec. 


58  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GftANT. 

The    First    "Flank    Movement" — An     Opposing    Army     Which 

Grant  Thought  Best   to   Pass   Around,  With   Heavy 

Margins,     to   "the    Left ''—  Scaling     the 

Heights  of  Cerro    Gordo. 

Where  the  national  road  crosses  the  Rio  del  Plan,  you 
instantly  rise  from  the  tierra  caliente  into  a  more  elevated 
region,  and,  after  an  hour's  march,  stand  at  the  entrance  of 
one  of  the  defiles,  so  famous  in  war-like  story,  which  Lib 
erty,  loving  the  mountains,  gives  to  mountaineers  for  their 
defense. 

Here,  on  the  left,  rises  a  ridge,  extending  the  whole 
length  of  the  pass,  and  behind  it  rolls  the  rapid  but  shal 
low  river  through  a  canon  a  hundred  feet  in  depth.  Upon 
its  acclivities,  facing  the  road  and  in  advantageous  posi 
tions,  the  Mexicans  have  planted  their  heavy  batteries,  one 
above  the  other;  and  the  superior  commands  all  the  ap- 
roaches  to  the  inferior. 

Here,  on  your  right,  are  elongated  mountain  spurs,  bas 
ing  upon  the  road  their  slopes,  covered  with  impenetrable 
chaparral.  They  forbid  any  diversion  to  the  right. 

Still  farther  west,  and  in  the  direct  line  of  your  march, 
stand  two  conical  mounts — Atalaya,  masked  from  the  road 
by  one  of  the  spurs;  and  Cerro  Gordo,  lifting  itself  eight 
hundred  feet  above  the  plain,  and  presenting  to  you  an 
eastern  face,  steep,  rugged,  difficult  of  access,  and  strength- 
,ened,  moreover,  by  two  tiers  of  breastworks  and  abatis. 
Its  summit  is  crowned  by  a  tower,  mounting  nine  guns, 
which  sweep  the  defile  and  the  road  beyond  it. 

As  if  this  were  riot  enough  to  guard  the  pass  at  the  foot 
of  Cerro  Gordo,  a  battery  of  six  guns  is  planted  directly  on 
the  road.  You  can  not  fiml,  in  any  direction,  a  half  acre 
of  level  earth,  where  a  battalion  can  deploy,  which  is  not 
commanded  by.  artillery. 

Grant  sees  in  an  instant  that  here  is  no  merely  engineer- 


"The  numerous  steeples,  of  great  beauty  and 
elevation,  with  Popocatapetl  ten  thousand  feet 
higher,  apparently  near  enough  to  touch  with  the 
hand,  filled  the  mind  with  religious  awe.  Recover 
ing  from  the  sublime  trance,  probably  not  a  man  in 
the  column  failed  to  say  to  his  neighbor  or  himself, 
"That  splendid  city  soon  shall  be  our*.'" 

(ti-oti'a  Ant.  binyraplnj.) 
59 


60          STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

ing  question,  but  a  complex  problem  in  the  art  of  war, 
which  addresses  itself  to  the  highest  genius  of  the  com 
mander.  It  needs  but  a  glance  at  his  left  to  show  him  that 
no  skill  and  courage  can  turn  the  enemy's  right.  To  the 
left  of  his  line  alone  a  flanking  movement  can  be  aimed. 
And  here  on  his  right  are  these  entangled  spurs;  and  the 
resources  of  reconnoissance  have  been  tasked  in  vain  to 
find  a  pathway  through  them. 

Shall  the  army  be  sacrificed  in  forcing  the  defile  ?  Shall 
it  be  decimated  in  storming  the  fort  ?  Shall  the  expedition 
be  abandoned  ? 

"When  Scott  reaches  the  ground,  his  experienced  eye 
speedily  detects  the  sole  expedient  which  can  brush  this 
great  obstruction  from  his  path.  Let  Pillow's  brigade 
seriously  threaten,  and  if  practicable  carry,  these  batteries 
of  the  enemy  on  the  left  of  the  road.  Let  Twiggs'  division, 
before  it  reaches  the  defile,  wheel  sharp  to  the  right  into 
this  forest  of  chaparral,  and  cutting  a  pathway  behind  those 
elongated  ridges,  and  encircling  all  the  Mexican  works, 
debouch  beyond  them  all  into  the  national  road. 

Assail  Cerro  Gordo,  the  key  of  the  whole  position,  in  the 
rear;  and  at  the  same  time  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  enemy 
to  Jalapa.  This  was  Scott's  preliminary  order  of  battle, 
omitting  only  his  directions  to  the  artillery  and  cavalry 
reserve,  to  Worth — to  follow  and  support  the  operations  of 
Twiggs,  and  the  directions  for  the  vigorous  pursuit  of  the 
foe  after  his  intrenohments  were  carried. 

The  performance  corresponds  with  the  programme,  ex 
cept  that  Twiggs,  being  annoyed  by  a  party  of  skirmishers 
in  executing  his  movement,  throws  off  to  his  left  a  de 
tachment  to  scatter  them,  which  unexpectedly  carries  the 
cone-shaped  Atalaya,  and,  encouraged  thereby,  scales 
Cerro  Gordo  in  front,  and  turns  to  flight  one  division  of 


IN 

Santa  Anna's  Mexican  army  before  Twiggs'  right,  on  the 
march,  has  reached  the  Jalapa  Road  to  intercept  it. 

Such  was  Grant's  first  participation  in  a  flanking 
movement. 

There  was  another  man  in  this  army  who  might  be 
mentioned  in  this  connection,  and  whom  General  Grant, 
long  years  afterwards,  met  under  peculiar  circumstances. 
It  was  Eobert  E.  Lee,  then  serving  on  General  Scott's 
staff  as  captain  of  engineers. 


General   Grant's   First  Half  Year  of  War— It  Opens  on  Fields  of 

Sublimest   Imagery,   but    they  are    Storied    in   Human 

Sacrifice   and  Midnight   Superstitions  —  Grant 

Amid  Pyramids,   Smoking  Mountains, 

and    on    the    Heights    of 

Chapultepec. 

Grant's  first  half  year  of  war  was  one  of  peculiar  en 
chantment. 

War  assumed  her  most  comely  guise,  her  most  captivat 
ing  airs,  her  most  bewitching  smile,  and  wove  round  the 
entranced  young  warrior  all  her  fascinating  spells. 

It  is  hard  to  conceive,  it  is  impossible  to  describe,  the 
exhilaration  with  which  he  participated  in  that  series  of 
hard-fought  engagements  which  bore  triumphantly  the 
flag  of  the  young  Republic  from  the  shores  of  the  Gulf  to 
the  lake-encircled  metropolis  of  the  ancient  Aztecs,  in  the 
footprints  of  previous  conquerors,  whose  names  recalled 
the  palmiest  days  of  the  proudest  monarchy;  through 
scenery  grand  and  picturesque  beyond  all  example;  along 
the  base  of  volcanoes  once  crowned  with  fire,  now  lifting 
eternal  snow  far  into  the  azure  depths  of  air;  amid  the 
ruins  of  temples  which  once  smoked  with  human  sacrifice; 
and  along  the  majestic  front  of  colossal  pyramids,  which 


62 


STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 


carry  the  mind  back  to  a  primeval  race  and  an  extinct  civ 
ilization. 

General  Scott,  who  visited  the  Pyramid  of  Cholula,  thus 
describes  it: 

"  During  his  halt,  every  corps  of  the  army,  in  succession, 
made  a  most  interesting  excursion  of  six  miles  to  the  ruins 
of  the  ancient  City  <  •!'  Cholula,  long,  in  point  of  civilization 


TUB  PYRAMID  OF  CHOLULA. 

and  art,  the  Etruria  of  this  continent,  and,  in  respect  to 
religion,  the  Mecca  of  many  of  the  earliest  tribes  known  to 
tradition. 

"  One  grand  feature,  denoting  the  ancient  grandeur  of 
Cholula,  stands  but  little  affected  by  the  lapse  of,  perhaps, 
thousands  of  years — a  pyramid  built  of  alternate  layers  of 
brick  and  clay,  some  two  hundred  feet  in  height,  with  a 
square  basis  of  more  than  forty  acres,  running  up  to  a 
plateau  of  seventy  yards  square.  There  stood,  in  the  time 
of  Cortez,  the  great  pagan  temple  of  the  Cholulans,  with  a 


IN  MEXICO.  63 

perpetual  blazing  fire  on  its  altar,  seen  in  the  night  many 
miles  around. 

"  Coming  up  with  the  brigade,  marching  at  ease,  all  in 
toxicated  with  the  fine  air  and  splendid  scenery,  he  (Gen 
eral  Scott)  was,  as  usual,  received  with  hearty  and  protracted 
cheers.  The  group  of  officers  who  surrounded  him  differed 
widely  in  their  objects  of  admiration;  some  preferring  this 
or  that  snow-capped  mountain,  others  the  city,  and  some 
the  Pyramid  of  Cholula,  that  was  now  opening  upon  the 
view." 

Prescott  says:  "The  great  Volcan,  as  Popocatapetl  was 
called,  rose  to  the  enormous  height  of  17,852  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea — more  than  2,000  feet  above  the  *  monarch 
of  the  mountains,'  the  highest  elevation  in  Europe.  Dur 
ing  the  present  century  it  has  rarely  given  evidence  of  its 
volcanic  origin ;  and  the  i  hill  that  smokes  '  has  almost  for 
feited  its  claim  to  the  appellation.  But  at  the  time  of  the 
Conquest  it  was  frequently  in  a  state  of  activity,  and  raged 
with  uncommon  fury  while  the  Spaniards  were  at  Tiascala.'' 

"  On  they  trudged,  however,  stopping  now  and  then  to 
quench  their  thirst  at  some  mountain  brook,  or  to  gaze  at 
the  quenched  volcano  of  Popocatapetl,  its  sides  begrimed 
with  lava,  and  its  peak  soaring  above  the  clouds." — Scott's 
Battles  in  Mexico. 

Of  Cholula,  Prescott  says:  "It  was  of  great  antiquity, 
and  was  founded  by  the  primitive  races  that  overspread  the 
land  before  the  Aztecs. 

"  The  Mexican  temples — teocallis,  '  houses  of  God J  as 
they  were  called — were  very  numerous. 

"  Human  sacrifices  were  adopted  by  the  Aztecs  early  in 
the  fourteenth  century,  about  two  hundred  years  before  the 
Conquest." — PrescotVs  Conquest  of  Mexico. 

Nor  was  it  any  drawback  to  his  enjoyment,  that,  with 
every  step  of  this  exciting  campaign,  Lieutenant  Grant  was 


64  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

advancing  in  military  knowledge  and  capacity,  and  also  in 
professional  reputation  and  rank. 

He  was  favorably  noticed  for  his  skill  in  gunnery,  when 
that  cordon  of  earthworks  was  tightening  round  Yera  Cruz, 
the  "  Invincible." 

He  was  complimented  for  his  gallantry  at  Churubusco, 
when  the  tete  de  pont  was  carried  by  the  bayonet  alone. 

He  won  his  brevet  of  first  lieutenant  in  those  bloody 
hours  when  Molino  Del  Key  succumbed  to  the  impetu 
osity  of  our  soldiery;  and  the  full  grade  on  that  day,  ever 
memorable  in  our  annals,  when  the  steep  and  frowning 
heights  of  Chapultepec  were  carried  and  the  trembling  city 
below  implored  the  mercy  of  our  victorious  soldiery. 


IN  MEXICO.  65 

On  to  Mexico — Grant's    First    Experience  in  Capturing  a  Capital 

— A  Great  and    Glittering  City  Approached    by  the 

High-ways  of  Death — Grant's  Active  Part 

in  the   Dreadful  Struggle. 

The  general  of  the  division  under  whom  it  was  Grant's 
good  fortune  to  serve,  was  Scott's  right  arm  during  the 
Mexican  campaign:  wherever  hard  work  was  to  be  done, 
Worth  was  in  the  van.  Garland  and  Clarke  were  the  right 
and  left  arms  of  Worth.  Of  Col.  Garland,  Worth  himself 
says,  that  "  he  was  conspicuous  on  many  fields  of  the  Mex 
ican  War;  and  by  his  skill,  conduct,  and  courage  in  the 
last  great  combats,  greatly  added  to  an  already  established 
reputation  for  patriotism  and  soldiership." 

In  following  closely  Col.  Garland's  impeded  march  to 
the  capital,  we  shall  detect  the  "  whereabouts "  of  Lieut. 
Grant  in  the  smoke  of  the  battle,  and  shall  witness  "  the 
moving  accidents  by  flood  and  field,  disastrous  chances, 
hair-breadth  'scapes  i'  the  imminent  deadly  breach," 
through  which  Grant  himself  reached  his  "  first  environed 
capital" — the  Hall  of  the  Montezumas. 

He  was  at  this  time  quartermaster  of  the  Fourth,  and 
unless  called  to  service  upon  the  regimental  staff,  might 
have  remained  with  his  baggage- wagons  during  every  en 
gagement;  but  lie  coveted  no  such  exemption,  and  was 
always  foremost  in  its  fighting  ranks. 

We  know,  then,  that  on  this  bright  forenoon  in  Septem 
ber — it  is  the  20th  of  the  month,  1844 — Grant  was  standing 

*  O 

with  hi-s  brigade-comrades  in  an  angle  of  the  San  Antonio 
Causeway.  They  propose  by  this  route  to  make  an  excur 
sion  to  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  enter  it  by  the  San  Antonio 
Gate. 

They  possess  some  exciting  information  which  it  is  desir 
able  that  the  reader  shall  also  learn  in  order  to  enter  into 
5 


60  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRAX/. 

the  spirit  of  their  adventure.    They  know  that  some  oppo 
sition  is  to  be  anticipated  to  their  jaunt. 

They  can  see  that,  half  a  mile  ahead,  the  villagers  of 
San  Antonio  have  thrown  impediments  across  the  cause 
way  which  may  prematurely  arrest  their  project.  They 
know  that  Col.  Clarke,  with  their  co-brigade,  who  designs 
to  accompany  them,  has  already  diverged  into  the  mead 
ows  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  the  intended  civilities  of 
this  hacienda,  and'  reaching  the  road  at  a  point  beyond  it. 

They  know  that  some  three  miles  ahead,  where  this 
causeway  crosses  the  Churubusco  rivulet,  still  more  formal 
preparations  are  made  for  their  reception;  that  a  tete  de 
pont  has  been  erected  with  bastions,  connecting-curtains, 
wet  ditch,  everything  in  the  most  approved  engineering 
style  and  finish,  even  to  the  four  guns  in  embrasure  and 
barbette,  bearing  directly  upon  their  narrow  path;  and 
that,  if  the  Mexicans  having  them  in  charge  are  mischiev 
ously  disposed,  quite  serious  consequences  may  there 
ensue. 

They  know  that  a  breastwork  of  some  four  hundred 
yards  front  connects  this  tete  de  pont  with  the  convent 
church  of  San  Pablo,  in  the  hamlet  of  Churubusco;  and 
that,  strange  to  say,  a  redoubt  and  abatis  obstructs  the  en 
trance  into  the  sacred  edifice,  which,  moreover,  mounts 
seven  cannon  on  its  consecrated  walls,  crenelled  also  for 
musketry. 

They  know,  also,  that  Santa  Anna,  with  a  following  of 
twenty-seven  thousand  soldiers,  has  come  forth  from  his 
piilace  to  this  interesting  locality  for  the  purpose  of  greet 
ing  them  upon  their  arrival. 

They  know  that  beyond  the  river  and  the  bridge  some 
eight  thousand  Mexican  reserves  are  drawn- up  in  line, 
awaiting  their  advent.  'They  know  that  yesterday  morning 
General  Twiggs,  with  quite  a  large  ivtinut',  went  through 


INTERIOR  GREAT  CATHEDIiAL,  CITY  OF  MEXICO. 


67 


68  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

the  Pedregal,  some  five  miles  to  the  west,  for  the  purpose 
of  visiting  the  fortified  camp  of  General  Valencia,  who, 
with  a  concourse  of  friends,  has  also  emerged  from  the  city 
with  hospitable  intent. 

They  know  that  it  is  the  plan  of  General  Twiggs'  party, 
after  paying  their  respects  to  the  Mexican  general,  to  pur 
sue  a  circuitous  path  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  the  pa 
rade  and  ceremonies  at  Churubusco,  and  to  join  Garland 
beyond  the  river  in  his  excursion  to  the  city. 

Grant,  with  the  brigade,  is  awaiting  the  signal  which 
shall  announce  that  Clarke  has  reached  his  point  of  desti 
nation.  His  guns  at  length  are  heard. 

Garland's  war-dogs,  unleashed,  rush  impetuously  upon 
the  San  Antonio  intrenchments,  and  drive  out  the  enemy 
in  a  long  straggling  column,  which  Clarke,  now  charging 
from  the  meadows  on  its  flank,  cuts  near  the  centre,  hurl 
ing  the  rear  upon  the  village  of  Dolores  as  unworthy  of 
further  notice,  but  uniting  with  Garland  in  scourging  the 
severed  head  to  the  compatriot  embrace  of  Churubusco. 
But  the  Sixth  Infantry,  which  is  on  the  lead,  suddenly 
comes  to  a  halt. 

The  battle  rages  at  three  points  at  once.  Victory  wavers, 
and  it  is  doubtful  upon  which  banner  she  will  perch.  Gar 
land's  and  Clarke's  brigades  are  stunned  in  their  onslaught 
upon  the  flank  of  the  tete  de  pont.  The  veteran  Sixth  In 
fantry  stagger  back,  decimated  from  their  furious  leap  upon 
its  front. 

Duncan's  battery  is  obliged  to  mask  itself  before  the 
heavier  metal  of  its  guns.  Taylor's  battery,  operating 
with  Twiggs  upon  the  right,  crippled  in  men  and  horses. 
is  driven  from  its  position  by  the  expert  gunnery  of  San 
Pablo,  while  the  assailing  infantry  there  are  terribly  galled 
bv  the  sharpshooters  of  its  tower  and  roof,  and  Shields  on 
the  meadows  is  outflanked  by  the  Mexican  cavalry. 


IN  MEXICO.  69 

One  daring  exploit  redeems  the  fortunes  of  the  day- 
Lieut.  Longstreet,  bearing  the  colors  of  the  Eighth  Infantry, 
and  leading  the  regiment  which  he  inspirits  both  by  ex 
hortation  and  example,  leaps  with  it  into  the  dry-ditch  of 
the  tete  de  pont,  escalades  the  curtain  without  ladder  or 
scaling-implement,  and,  with  the  cold  steel  alone,  clears  its 
bastions  of  defenders,  and  drives  them  over  the  bridge  upon 
their  reserve.  Quicker  than  thought,  he  turns  its  captured 
guns  upon  San  Pablo,  which  is  still  slaughtering  the  col 
umns  of  Twiggs  upon  the  right. 

Relieved  from  the  pressure  of  the  same  metal,  Lieut.- 
Col.  Duncan  gallops  forward  with  his  splendid  battery. 
He  opens  at  a  distance  of  two  hundred  yards,  upon  the. 
walls  around  the  convent;  and  seizing  the  prolongation  of 
its  principal  face,  in  the  space  of  five  minutes,  by  a  fire  of 
astonishing  rapidity,  drives  the  artillery-men  from  the  guns 
in  that  quarter,  and  the  infantry  from  their  intrenchments; 
and  then  turns  his  battery  upon  the  convent  tower. 

While  its  garrison  are  shocked  and  half  demoralized  by 
this  overwhelming  attack  of  Duncan  from  the  left,  the 
stormers  upon  the  right  capture  the  nearest  salient  which 
confronts  them  in  that  direction;  the  light  artillery  advance 
rapidly  within  effective  range;  San  Pablo  slackens  fire; 
and  a  dozen  white  flags  appear  just  as  Capt.  Alexander  of 
the  Third  Infantry  is  entering  it,  sword  in  hand.  The 
whole  fortified  position  of  Churubusco  is  taken. 

It  was  yet  dark  on  the  following  morning,  when  Grant, 
in  regimental  battle  line,  confronts  the  last  fortified  posi 
tion  upon  which  depends  the  fate  of  the  enemy's  capital. 
Directly  in  his  front  the  solid  walls  of  Molino  del  Key,  five 
hundred  yards  in  length,  rise  like  a  precipice,  save  that 
drowsy  candles  twinkle  through  its  windows,  intimating 
what  is  in  store  when  from  them  shall  stare  the  muzzles  of 
the  rifles. 


70  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

On  its  right  the  Casa  Mata,  or  arsenal,  presents  a  for 
bidding  mass  of  heavy  masonry,  pierced  for  musketry,  and 
enveloped  by  a  quadrangular  field-work.  Between  the  two 
is  the  station  of  the  enemy's  field-battery  and  of  the  in 
fantry  deployed  on  either  side  for  its  protection.  On  its 
left,  wrapped  in  the  solemn  shade  of  gigantic  cypresses, 
towers  from  the  summit  of  a  porphyritic  rock  the  royal 
castle  of  Chapultepec. 

Casa  Mata  is  assigned  to  Grant's  comrades  of  the  Second 
Brigade  as  their  exclusive  prey.  Garland,  under  whom  he 
serves,  is  aimed  at  the  Molino  alone,  which,  by  the  mask 
ing  of  Chapultepec,  has  become  the  extreme  left  of  the 
enemy;  and  his  business  is  threefold — to  sustain  Wright's 
storming  party,  to  protect  Huger's  battery  of  twenty-four- 
pounders,  to  cut  off  supports  from  the  castle. 

The  co-operating  forces  for  the  single  movement  in 
which  Grant  is  personally  concerned  are  all  now  in  posi 
tion.  Garland  is  on  the  plain,  staring  directly  into  the 
eyes  of  the  Molino;  and  on  the  Tacubaya  ridge,  within  five 
hundred  yards  of  it,  liuger,  with  his  matches  lighted; 
Wright,  with  his  forlorn  hope  in  leash;  Cadwallader  and 
Kirby  Smith,  as  reserves  against  mishaps — all  with  hearts 
kindled,  muscles  braced,  teeth  set,  awaiting  the  opening  of 
an  exciting  drama. 

Morn  has  hardly  purpled  the  east,  before  the  heavy 
missiles  of  Huger's  battering  train  pound  the  walls  and 
penetrate  the  roof  of  the  Molino ;  and,  before  the  nearest 
mountain  brings  back  the  echo  of  his  first  gun,  lights 
flash,  bugles  sound,  shouts  run,  and  arms  clash  along  the 
whole  line  of  the  enemy's  defenses,  as  the  roused  garrison 
begird  themselves  for  action.  At  the  first  indication  that 
the  mason-work  is  yielding,  Wright,  with  his  half-legion 
of  stormers,  advances  at  double-quick  down  the  Tacubaya 
slope;  and  unchecked  by  the  ditch  which  environs  the 


IX  MEXICO.  71 

structure,  unshaken  by  the  sheet  of  flame  which  flashes 
from  the  light  battery,  by  'the  musketry  which  showers 
upon  them,  by  the  canister  and  grape  which  enfilade  every 
approach,  in  spite  of  its  supports,  captures  the  enemy's 
field-battery  between  the  Casa  Mata  and  the  Molino. 

But  as  they  are  trailing  the  'guns  upon  the  retreating 
mass,  and  before  they  are  discharged,  the  garrison,  perceiv 
ing  that  it  has  been  dispossessed  by  a  handful  of  men,  and 
re-assured  by  the  active  support  of  its  collateral  lines,  rallies 
in  force,  and  temporarily  discomfits  and  drives  the  victors. 
While  they  are  bayoneting  the  wounded  Americans  left 
upon  the  field,  Cadwallader's  and  Kirby  Smith's  reserves 
are  on  the  assassins. 

Garland  now  rapidly  moves  forward  with  Drum's  section 
of  artillery,  and  carries  an  apparently  impregnable  position 
under' the  guns  of  Chapultepec;  and,  stimulated  by  victory, 
wheels  up  his  glittering  line  of  bayonets  to  the  support  of 
the  storming  party.  The  Fourth  joins  the  melange  of  all 
arms  which  have  closed  in  upon  the  Molino,  firing  upon 
its  apertures,  climbing  to  its  roof,  and  striving,  with  the 
butts  of  muskets  and  extemporized  battering-rams,  to  burst 
its  doors. 

Major  Buchanan  of  the  Fourth,  with  Alden  and  Grant, 
are  forcing-the  southern  gate.  Ayres  and  Anderson,  with 
some  dashing  acrobats,  vault  through  an  embrasure  at  the 
northwest  angle.  A  hand-to-hand  fight  ensues,  from  room 
to  room,  from  floor  to  floor,  from  roof  to  roof.  In  the  main 
apartment  of  the  building,  a  stalwart  Mexican  gathers  his 
straggling  comrades  into  a  line  which  threatens  to  clear  the 
Molino  of  every  assailant;  but  the  southern  gate  has  yielded, 
Buchanan  and  Grant  appear  with  a  serried  file  of  the  Fourth 
Infantry,  and  the  Molino  is  finally  captured  beyond  perad- 
venture. 

It  is  thus  that  Grant  wins  his  first  brevet.     Before'  noon 


72  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

the  Casa  Mata  is  blown  up,  the  Molino  dismantled,  and  the 
fatigued  survivors  of  this  desperate  contest  are  reposing 
on  their  laurels  at  headquarters. 

While  these  grand  events  are  transpiring,  Worth's  divi 
sion,  stripped  of  its  first  brigade 'by  Pillow's  requisition, 
is  awaiting  at  the  Molino  its  predestined  occupation.  The 
order  at  length  arrives;  and  Garland  leads  cautiously  around 
the  northern  base  of  that  consecrated  hill  under  the  sombre 
shade  of  its  primeval  grove,  cheered  by  the  stars  and  stripes 
which  now  flaunt  defiance  from  turrets  reared  by  Spanish 
viceroys,  aimed  at  the  entrance  of  the  Causeway  San 
Cosine,  and  bound  for  the  Alameda  by  the  northwestern 
gate.  Grant  is  with  him,  and  wins  an  additional  grade  on 
this  immortal  afternoon. 

When  they  reach  the  embankment  they  perceive  that  it 
is  no  place  for  organized  operations:  it  is  narrow;  the 
ubiquitous  canals  are  on  either  side;  an  aqueduct  runs 
along  the  center,  laid  on  arches  of  solid  masonry;  it  is 
intersected  by  numerous  dikes  and  cross-roads  and  by 
frowning  barricades,  behind  which  the  sullen  enemy  lies 
in  wait.  The  brigade  is  broken  into  detachments:  a  part 
are  thrown  out,  right  and  left,  into  the  marsh,  advancing 
behind  every  natural  obstacle  and  cover  ;  a  part  rush 
stealthily  from  arch  to  arch.  Garland  is  now  approach- 
ing  the  first  breastwork.  Behind  it  is  the  enemy  in  force, 
with  his  center  resting  upon  it  and  his  wings  expanded. 

k<  When  the  head  of  the  battalion  was  in  short  musket- 
riinge  of  this  barrier,"  writes  Major  Lee,  commander  of 
the  Fourth,  "  Lieut.  Grant  and  Capt.  Brooks,  with  a  few 
men  of  their  respective  regiments,  by  a  handsome  move 
ment  to  the  left,  turned  the  right  of  the  enemy,  and  the 
Wrier  was  carried."  The  soldiers  display  their  habitual 
firmness  and  audacity.  Worth  directs  the  movement  with 
tactical  exactness — massing  his  scattered  detachments  upon 


IN  MEXICO.  73 

the  enemy  in  front,  while  carefully  guarding  his  own  flank; 
throwing  off  artillery  and  infantry  into  the  marsh  upon  the 
left  to  turn  an  abatis,  into  the  marsh  upon  the  right  to  clear 
his  own  arid  Quitinan's  front,  who  is  pursuing  a  divergent 
march  to  the  capital.  Worth  pushes  his  troops  through  a 
withering  fire.  They  capture  a  second  battery ;  they  silence 
and  dismantle  a  third,  which  enfilades  their  path.  They 
have  reached  Campo  Santo,  where  the  causeway  wheels 
into  the  inhabited  streets  of  the  city. 

"  We  here  came  in  front  of  another  battery,"  writes  Gen 
eral  Worth  in  his  report,  "  beyond  which,  distant  some  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards,  and  sustaining  it,  was  the  last  de 
fense,  or  the  garita  of  San  Cosme.  The  approach  to  these 
two  defenses  was  in  a  right  line;  and  the  whole  space  was 
literally  swept  by  grape,  canister,  and  shells,  from  a  heavy 
gun  and  howitzer;  added  to  which,  severe  fires  of  musketry 
were  delivered  from  the  tops  of  the  adjacent  houses  and 
churches. 

It  hence  became  necessary  to  vary  our  mode  of  opera 
tions.  Garland's  brigade  was  thrown  to  the  right,  within 
and  masked  by  the  aqueduct,  and  instructed  to  dislodge 
the  enemy  from  the  buildings  in  his  front,  and  endeavor  to 
reach  and  turn  the  left  of  the  garita;  taking  advantage  of 
such  cover  as  might  offer  to  enable  him  to  effect  these  ob 
jects.  Clarke's  brigade  was,  at  the  same  time,  ordered  to 
take  the  buildings  on  the  left  of  the  road,  and,  by  the  use 
of  bars  and  picks,  burrow  through  from  house  to  house, 
and  in  like  manner  carry  the  right  of  the  garita. 

While  these  orders  were  being  executed,  a  mountain 
howitzer  was  placed  on  the  top  of  a  commanding  building 
on  the  left,  and  another  on  the  Church  of  San  Cosme  on 
the  right;  both  of  which  opened  with  admirable  effect. 
The  work  of  the  troops  was  tedious,  and  necessarily  slow, 
but  was  greatly  favored  by  the  fire  of  the  howitzers."  The 


74  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GUANT. 

howitzer  on  San  Cosme  Convent  is  served  by  a  steady  arm, 
and  aimed  by  a  sure  eye,  that  will  yet  be  of  service  to  the 
country  in  direr  extremities  than  this. 

"  I  recognized  the  command  as  it  came  up,"  writes  Col. 
Garland  in  his  report  of  the  action,  "  mounted  a  howitzer 
on  the  top  of  a  convent,  which,  under  the  direction  of 
Lieut.  Grant,  Quartermaster  of  the  Fourth  Infantry,  and 
Lieut.  Lendrum,  Third  Artillery,  annoyed  the  enemy  con 
siderably.  I  must  not  omit  to  call  attention  to  Lieut. 
Grant,  who  acquitted  himself  most  nobly  upon  several  oc 
casions  under  my  observation." 

The  orders  which  Worth  recites  in  the  paragraph  we  have 
transcribed  from  his  report,  virtually  abrogates  tactics  for 
the  remainder  of  the  day,  and  transforms  the  movement 
into  a  hand-to-hand  fight. 

While  Grant  is  showering  the  roofs  with  his  howitzer, 
Garland  is  bush-fighting  on  one  side  of  the  street,  arid 
Clarke  burrowing  on  the  other. 

And  now  ensues  a  scene  which  beggars  description.  The 
military  vocabulary,  with  its  technical  terms,  and  the  ste 
reotyped  phrases  and  imagery  of  military  narrative,  are 
powerless  here.  The  sun  is  near  the  horizon.  The  war  in 
the  afternoon,  with  scope  and  verge  enough,  had,  like  a 
freshet,  overspread  the  wide  area  of  the  meadows.  It  is 
now  "  bottled  up  "  in  a  narrow  gorge  between  the  parallel 
walls  of  the  street  arid  the  gate-works  at  its  termination. 
The  pent-up  fury  devours  all  before  it;  rages,  howls,  lashes 
the  sides  of  the  enclosure,  as  if  a  whole  menagerie  of  rabid 
animals  had  been  driven  into  a  single  pen. 

By  patient  toil,  ingenuity,  courage  unparalleled;  by 
Clarke  on  the  left,  with  his  model  cannoneers  transmogri 
fied  into  sappers  and  gymnasts;  by  Garland  on  the  right, 
with  his  splendid  infantry  reduced  for  the  occasion  into 
bushwhackers;  by  Grant  and  Lendrum  razeed  into  com- 


55s 


70  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

inon  gunners;  by  cavalrymen  dismounted,  voltigeurs,  en 
gineers  (for  all  arms  are  in  this  grand  melee) — inch  by  inch, 
foot  by  foot,  we  crowd  the  Mexican  gunners  from  the  bat 
tery  between  us  and  the  gateway.  Duncan's  artillery  is 
rushed  into  the  abandoned  work  with  a  velocity  which 
drives  it  muzzle  to  muzzle  against  the  enemy's  cannon. 
"Once  more  to  the  breach!'1 

And  by  manoeuvres  which  were  never  dreamed  of  on  pa- 
rade;  by  tactics  which  would  astound  the  schools  and  dis* 
may  the  martinet;  by  vaulting  from  house-top  to  house, 
top,  squirming  from  window  to  window,  worming  from 
wall  to  wall;  by  soldiers  right-face,  left-face,  back-face, 
obliqued;  by  soldiers  erect,  on  their  knees,  "belly- whap- 
per;"  by  volleys  from  cannon  in  the  street,  howitzers  on  the 
convent;  by  fusilades  from  all  rifles,  all  muskets,  all  revolv 
ers,  from  all  skirmishers,  squads,  detachments,  single  men; 
by  bullets  from  every  loop-hole,  cover,  "  coigne  of  vantage  " 
—the  riddled  garita  sullenly  yields.  The  welkin  rings 
with  a  shout  which  carries  consternation  to  ten  thousand 
Mexican  homes,  as  the  pent-up  war  went  roaring  through 
the  pass.  The  city  is  ours  ! 


Lieut.  Grant  Witnessing  General  Scctt's  Triumphal  Entry  into  tht 
City  of  Mexico— What  He  Sees  from  the  Grand  Plaza. 

Grant  was  an  interested  spectator  of  that  splendid  pageant, 
the  culminating  felicity  of  Scott's  long  military  career— his 
ceremonious  entrance,  with  all  the  honors,  into  the  City  of 
Mexico. 

He  sees  groups  of  discharged  felons,  wearing  their  tat 
tered  mantles  with  the  air  of  Spanish  grandees,  grasping 
their  stilettos,  and  frowning  vengeance  upon  the  hated 
Yankees,  who  stand  between  them  and  universal  pillage. 
He  sees  the  flags  floating  from  the  ambassadorial  palaces, 


IN  MEXICO.  7? 

and  groups  of  elegantly-attired  women  behind  them,  peer 
ing  through  their  folds  ujx>n  the  spectacle  beneath;  and  in 
the  balconies  the  gaudy  costume  of  sen  or  and  senorita, 
gazing  with  varied  emotion  upon  the  begrimed  and  bronzed 
soldiery  before  whose  resistless  valor  has  sunk  every  em 
blem  of  their  independence  and  sovereignty.  He  hears 
the  measured  tramp  of  armed  columns,  the  distant  roll  of 
artillery  wheels,  the  clash  of  arms  upon  the  pavement,  the 
sounding  hoofs  of  horses  on  the  street,  the  inspiriting  burst 
of  "  Hail  to  the  Chief,"  as  Worth's  veteran  warriors,  drawn 
up  in  line  of  battle  upon  the  Alameda,  salute  the  passing 
cavalcade  of  the  general-in-chief.  On  the  Grand  Plaza, 
where,  in  front  of  the  magnificent  cathedral,  Quitman's 
division  is  presenting  arms,  Grant  beholds,  in  the  full  uni 
form  of  his  rank,  escorted  by  a  squadron  of  dragoons,  and 
half  hid  by  the  flashing  trappings  of  his  staff,  the  towering 
form  of  that  chieftain,  who,  after  storming  the  strongholds 
of  Mexico  and  annihilating  her  armies,  alights  at  the  steps 
of  her  national  palace,  conscious  desert  ennobling  his  line 
aments,  and  the  premonitions  of  an  established  fame  ani 
mating  his  bo.-om. 


The  Science  of  War — General  Scott  is  Grant's  Teacher — Theory  vs- 

Practice. 

The  qualification  for  the  chief  of  mighty  armies  is  the 
science  of  command  itself,  which  teaches  where  armies 
shall  be  stationed,  engagements  won,  and  campaigns  con 
ducted.  You  may  con  the  battles  and  operations  of  the 
most  celebrated  warriors  in  biographies;  you  may  learn  by 
heart  their  war  maxims,  as  you  may  try  to  master  chess 
without  a  competitor,  or  anatomy  and  surgery  without  an 
operating  room;  but  a  century  of  such  fancy  drill  in  these 
arts  will  never  produce  a  Morphy,  a  Mott,  or  a  Napoleon. 


78  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

I  have  heard  General  Grant  affirm,  says  Mr.  Deming,  that, 
"  when  he  was  first  intrusted  with  high  military  authority, 
he  knew  nothing  of  strategy  except  what  he  had  learned 
by  critical  observation,  upon  the  spot,  of  the  modes  and  ex. 
pedients  by  which  the  genius  of  Scott  counterbalanced  the 
intrenched  positions  and  .the  numerical  superiority  of  the 
Mexicans." 

It  is  a  source  of  profound  gratification  that  such  a  model 
campaign,  in  all  respects,  was  presented  for  his  study  and 
consideration.  It  has  been  justly  said  of  it,  that  it  was 
conducted  with  fewer  strategical  mistakes,  with  less  sacri 
fice  of  men,  with  less  devastation  in  proportion  to  its  vic 
tories,  and  with  more  fidelity  to  the  established  laws  and 
usages  of  war,  than  that  of  any  invading  general  upon 
record. 

Entering  into  and  a  part  of  this  science  of  command  is 
that  genius — born,  not  made — by  which  the  great  masters 
of  the  art  magnetize  every  soldier  in  the  ranks.  There  is 
something  more  in  war  than  what  Napoleon's  maxim  as 
serts — "  the  art  of  being  the  strongest."  The  warrior 
works  with  instruments  that  have  souls  within  them.  A 
general  may  be  familiar  with  all  that  the  books  teach  of 
war;  he  may  be  expert  in  every  minutia  of  tactics;  he  may 
be  accomplished  in  the  theoretical  and  mechanical  parts 
of  strategy  ;  he  may  have  learned  all  of  it  which  can  be 
taught  by  study,  and  also  by  experience;  yet  if  he  lack  but 
one  thing — this  personal  ascendency — down  to  the  dust 
will  his  banner  sink  before  that  antagonist  whose  sole 
superiority  is  the  possession  of  this  exalted  attribute. 

It  is  this  power,  which,  in  the  dire  extremity,  makes  one 
man  ten,  and  a  thousand  put  ten  thousand  to  flight.  It 
was  this  which  Frederick  exhibited  when  his  twice  ten 
thousand  veterans,  inspired  by  his  own  genius,  vanquished 
at  Rosbach  four  times  ten  thousand  French  and  Austrians; 


7^"  MEXICO.  79 

the  father  and  the  king  exhorting  his  grenadiers  as  they 
passed  into  the  battle-cloud,  u  You  yourselves  know  that 
there  have  been  no  watchings,  no  fatigues,  no  sufferings, 
no  dangers,  which  I  have  not  steadily  shared  with  yoii  up 
to  this  very  hour;  and  you  now  see  me  ready  to  die  with 
you  and  for  you.  All  that  I  ask  of  you,  comrades,  is  that 
you  return  me  zeal  for  zeal  and  love  for  love."  It  was  the 
power  of  the  four  consummate  warriors  of  the  race — 

"  The  science  of  commanding ; 

The  godlike  art  of  moulding,  welding,  fettering,  banding 
The  minds  of  millions  till  they  move  like  one." 

It  can  not  be  reasonably  doubted  that  Scott  possessed,  to 
a  considerable  degree,  this  inspiring  quality  of  eminent 
generalship;  and  it  is  fortunate,  that,  for  so  long  a  period, 
Grant  dwelt  so  near  the  source  of  inspiration  that  he  may 
have  caught  the  flame;  close  to  the  magnet  that  he  may 
have  imbibed  a  portion  of  its  mysterious  power. 


GEN.   GRANT'S   MARRIAGE. 


General    Grant's   Capture    of  a   "Willing   Prisoner"  —  Her    Name 

Was    "Miss   Julia5'— His   Marriage— Social 

Life  in  Detroit. 

After  his  war  with  the  gods,  Prometheus — so  the  story 
goes — was  bound  to  a  rock  in  Caucasus,  and  an  immense 
vulture  sent  daily  to  pounce  upon  his  liver,  which  grew  as 
fast  as  it  was  devoured.  His  punishment  seems  to  be  typi 
cal  of  the  tedium  which  preys  upon  the  mind  of  the  soldier 
when  lie  passes  suddenly  from  such  scenes  as  Churubusco 
and  Chapultepec  to  the  torpid  perceptions  and  sluggish 
arterial  circulation  of  a  hibernating  bear  at  Fort  Desola 
tion. 

We  never  should  have  heard  of  Grant,  says  a  friend,  after 
his  second  imprisonment  in  one  of  these  dungeons  of  De 
spair,  but  for  an  incident  the  most  fortunate  of  his  varied 
career. 

lie  was  allowed  by  his  military  superiors  to  select  an  as 
sociate  to  share  his  exile  from  military  activity.  His  choice 
fell  upon  one  who  deserved  all  his  confidence  and  love.  He 
carried  with  him  to  his  monotonous  duties  cheerfulness  and 
consolation  in  the  person  of  a  bride. 

He  was  married  in  August,  1848,  to  Miss  Julia  T.  Dent, 
the  daughter  of  Frederick  Dent,  a  merchant  of  St.  Louis; 
and  the  sister  of  Frederick  T.  Dent,  a  classmate  at  West 
Point,  who  has  since  risen  to  the  rank  of  brevet  brigadier- 
general,  and  was  the  aide  of  Grant  in  several  engagements, 
and  his  assistant  secretary  of  war  when  he  was  the  head, 
ad  interim,  of  that  department. 


GEN.  GRANTS  MARRIAGE.  81 

She  has  proved  herself  the  kindest  and  most  affectionate 
of  wives;  sharing  with  unabated  courage  and  constancy  the 
trials  and  disappointments  of  his  early  manhood;  fully  ex 
emplifying  the  truth  of  Lord  Bacon's  aphorism,  that  "  vir 
tue,  like  precious  odors,  is  most  fragrant  when  incensed  or 
crushed." 

Prosperity  and  renown  have  since  brought  to  him  a  cup 
crowned  with  blessings;  but,  among  them  all,  there  is  no 
choicer  felicity  than  that  the  wife  of  his  youth,  in  the 
bloom  of  her  years,  is  permitted  to  share  them. 

Fame  and  position  have  also  entailed  their  peculiar 
trials  and  anxieties;  but  they  are  always  met  with  forti 
tude  and  composure  when  cheered  and  sustained  by  the 
companion  who  has  stood  beside  him  in  so  many  emer 
gencies,  and  in  both  extremities  of  fortune. 

"Washington,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  terminated  his 
novitiate,  in  that  French  and  Indian  War  which  trained  him 
for  the  Revolution,  at  Fort  du  Quesne.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-six,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  Grant's  novitiate  in 
the  Mexican  War  which  schooled  him  for  the  "War  of  the 
Rebellion,  he  was  stationed  at  Detroit. 

This  city,  charming  in  its  natural  situation,  and,  by  the 
beauty  of  its  streets  and  the  elegance  of  its  mansions,  at 
tractive  as  a  residence,  is  still  more  captivating  for  its  so 
ciety,  refined,  cultivated,  and  intellectual,  which,  descending 
as.it  has  from  the  earliest  times,  is  in  some  measure  due 
to  its  origin  from  the  most  polished  nation  in  the  world. 

The  social  parties  of  Detroit  in  the  winter  of  1848-9 
delightfully  relieved  the  dull  routine  of  a  quartermaster's 
duty.  The  new  tie  which  Grant  had  recently  formed,  in 
addition  to  rendering  his  own  quarters  pleasant  and  invit 
ing,  drew  him  out  of  himself,  from  the  mess-room  and  his' 
cigar,  to  the  pleasant  and  agreeable  circles  in  the  city. 

Mrs.  Grant  was    herself  fond  of  social   pleasures  and 


STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  QEN.  GRANT. 

amusements,  and  they  soon 'became  far  from  insupportable 
to  her  husband.  It  is  not  true,  as  is  generally  supposed, 
that  in  private  life  Grant  wraps  himself  up  in  reticence  and 
reserve.  It  is  only  when  pressed  to  divulge  prospective 
military  designs,  pumped  by  adroit  politicians  to  indorse 
party  platforms,  pestered  by  those  who  worship  "  gab  "  to 
play  the  role  of  stump-orator  on  every  appropriate  and  in 
appropriate  occasion,  that  it  becomes  as  inconvenient  and 
impossible  for  him  to  speak  as  it  was  for  Sir  Mungo  Mala- 
growther  to  hear  when  his  withers  were  wrung  by  some 
disagreeable  innuendo.  In  the  society  of  friends,  and  even 
strangers  worthy  of  his  civility,  Grant  is  found  to  be  well 
posted  on  the  current  themes  of  conversation. 

General  McPherson,  who  was  a  distinguished  division- 
commander  under  General  Grant,  on  one  occasion  said  to 
a  friend:  "To  know  and  appreciate  General  Grant  fully, 
one  ought  to  be  a  member  of  his  military  family.  Though 
possessing  a  remarkable  reticence  as  far  as  military  opera 
tions  are  concerned,  he  is  frank  and  affable,  converses  well, 
and  has  a  peculiarly  retentive  memory.  When  not  op 
pressed  with  the  cares'of  his  position,  he  is  very  fond  of 
talking  and  telling  anecdotes." 

Let  it  not,  therefore,  be  supposed  that  Lieut.  Grant  was 
not  "master  of  the  situation,"  even  in  the  fashionable 
circles  of  Detroit. 


THE    FAK   WEST. 


General  Grant  in  Oregon— Watching  the  Indians. 

Early  in  1852,  the  Fourth  Infantry,  in  which  Grant  was 
still  acting  quartermaster,  was  ordered  to  the  Pacific  coast. 
The  first  station  of  Grant  was  at  Benicia,  where  we  find 
him  in  the  fall  of  1852.  This  is  a  depot  of  ordnance  and 
quartermasters'  stores  in  the  Pacific  Department;  and  he 
is  engaged  here  for  a  few  weeks  in  making  requisitions  and 
shipping  supplies,  when  he  is  ordered  to  Fort  Vancouver 
in  Oregon. 

Grant  departs  with  his  regiment  to  this  forlorn  spot,  iso 
lated  from  civilization  on  the  east  by  an  intervening  wil 
derness  more  than  two  thousand  miles  in  breadth,  and  from 
civilization  on  the  west  by  a  coast-range  of  sombre  moun 
tains,  which  shuts  it  off  even — save  by  one  avenue — from 
the  great  highway  of  nations. 

Vancouver  is  eighty  miles  from  the  sea,  enveloped  in  the 
melancholy  shade  of  primitive  forests.  When  Grant 
reached  it,  he  found  it  still  retained  as  one  of  the  central 
seats  of  traffic  and  distribution  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com 
pany.  During  the  era  of  conflicting  claims  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain  upon  Oregon,  it  had 
pushed  its  pretensions  into  that  territory,  wove  aver  it  a 
network  of  chief  and  subordinate  establishments,  and  now 
exercised  unlimited  control  over  the  nomadic  Indians  whom 
the  Fourth  Infantry  had  been  despatched  to  quell. 

The  station  of  the  company,  in  the  center  of  the  clear 
ing,  wore  all  the  aspects  of  a  military  post.  An  imposing 


84          STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

stockade  encloses  an  area  of  about  seven  acres,  with 
mounted  bastions  at  two  of  its  angles  ;  within  are  the 
governor's  residence,  two  small  buildings  for  clerks,  and  a 
range  of  dwellings  for  families;  without  is  another  store 
house,  under  lease  to  our  government;  and  a  few  hundred 
yards  farther  to  the  east,  rising  from  a  plain  upon  the  very 
edge  of  immemorial  woods,  are  the  log  houses  known  as 
the  Columbia  Barracks;  and  within  an  arrow's  flight  of 
our  flag-staff  is  a  group  of  hovels,  occupied  by  Indians, 
servants,  and  Kanackas. 

Four  companies  of  the  Fourth  are  here,  with  Grant  still 
quartermaster  :  one  company  is  at  Fort  Dallas,  higher  up 
the  Columbia;  and  the  remainder  are  so  distributed  as  to 
guard  and  keep  open  communication  between  Oregon  and 
California,  with  assistant  quartermasters  for  their  respect- 
*ve  stations. 

At  this  desolate  station,  Grant  vegetated  for  one  year. 
Cervantes  never  sent  Don  Quixote  on  an  adventure  more 
fantastic  than  the  one  which  the  Secretary  of  War  had  or 
dered  four  companies  of  an  infantry  regiment  to  achieve. 

They  must  guard  the  trail  of  emigrants  through  Oregon ; 
the  whole  army  of  the  United  States  could  not  effectually 
do  it.  They  must  chastise  Indian  raiders  upon  the  route; 
winged  soldiers,  with  pinions  like  a  condor  to  buffet  moun 
tain-blasts,  might  attempt  it  with  some  hope  of  success; 
but  it  is  utterly  beyond  the  capacity  of  bipeds  moving 
along  the  earth. 

When  a  report  reaches  the  garrison  that  the  Indians  are 
at  a  particular  post,  you  put  your  finger  upon  them,  and 
they  are  not  there.  Before  a  company  is  rallied,  the  w%r- 
party  vanishes,  and  can  be  captured  as  easily  as  the  winds 
which  were  with  them,  at  the  same  hour,  upon  the  same 
occasion. 

The  sole  service  of  troops  at  Vancouver  is  as  a  moral 


86  STOKIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

support  to  the  emigrants,  and  a  terror  to  the  wild  foe. 
Even  the  alarms,  which  during  the  first  six  months  tempo 
rarily  animate  the  garrison,  are  soon  checked  by  the  adroit 
ness  of  Lieut.-Col.  Bonneville  in  command,  who  establishes 
intimate  relations  with  the  servants  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company,  and,  through  the  instrumentality  of  its  widely- 
scattered  agencies,  succeeds  in  pacifying  the  tribes. 

The  second  half  year  opens  with  the  purpose  accom 
plished  for  which  the  troops  were  sent.  There  is  no  Indian 
raider,  upon  the  trail,  no  war-party  in  the  mountains,  no 
war-cloud  in  the  horizon.  The  emigrant  train  winds  along 


the  desolate  track  to  Oregon  City,  without  ambuscade  or 
assault.  There  is  no  call  upon  the  garrison,  except  to  the 
drill  and  to  the  dress  parade:  "nothing  to  do"  assails  it 
like  a  plague. 

To  Grant's  active  mind  it  was  inexpressibly  irksome. 
Amusements  fail  to  divert  him.  Snorting  mustangs  haunt 
the  plain,  bounding  beneath  the  rider  as  if  each  muscle 
were  a  separate  prancer,  and  the  entire  horse  one  "of 
Ukraine  breed."  The  man  born  on  horseback  scorns  to  be 
stride  them.  Gangs  of  Ivanackas,  in  fantastic  attire, 
mounted  on  these  wild  coursers,  career  and  caracole,  ad 
vance,  retreat,  wind  circle  within  circle,  as  they  represent 
mimic  battles  and  hippodromes,  before  the  barrack-door; 
but  they  fail  to  enliven  the  dull  eye  o'f  the  spectator.  An 


IN  THE  FAR  WEST. 


87 


elk  of  twelve  tines,  dashing  through  the  underbrush,  hardly 
tempts  him  to  the  chase.  The  salmon — gamiest  of  fish 
—leaps  the  cascades  of  the  Columbia,  on  its  way  to  the 
spawning-shoal,  in  the  stupendous  defiles  of  the  mountains. 
The  deep  pool  below  fairly  whirls  and  glistens  with  the 
arrested  silver-backs,  which  dart  at  a  fly  in  mid-air,  with 
an  eagerness  of  spring  that  would  have  crazed  old  Izaak 
Walton,  and  held  him  for  days  absorbed  in  wild  enchant 
ment.  Grant  throws  his  line  with  as  much  listlessness 
as  if  he  were  bobbing  for  tadpoles  in  a  tan  vat. 


THE    FARMER. 


General  Grant  a  Farmer — He  Buys  a  Farm  and  Settles  Down  near 

St.  Louis. 

In  a  period  of  profound  national  peace,  Capt.  Grant  dis 
cards  his  epaulets,  that  he  may  enjoy  domestic  life.  He 
resigned  his  commission  as  captain  in  the  army  July  31, 
1854,  with  the  certain  knowledge  that  he  must  earn  a  live 
lihood  for  himself  and  family  by  the  labor  of  his  hands 
and  the  sweat  of  his  brow:  after  all,  as  the  Spanish  pro 
verb  hath  it,  "  the  shirt  is  nearer  than  the  coat." 

The  choice  and  the  sacrifice  equally  impress  the  thought 
ful  mind,  while  this  new  life-discipline  produces  fruit  in  the 
character  which  is  not  to  be  despised.  He  makes  himself 
a  good  husband  and  a  good  father,  and  therefore  becomes 
a  good  citizen.  He  works,  that  he  may  never  bend  "  the 
pliant  hinges  of  the  knee  "  to  power  or  riches. 

Let  not  proud  ambition  mock  this  homely  joy  bought  by 
useful  toil!  Labor  is  twice  blessed  which  duty  inspires; 
and,  as  old  George  Herbert  says,  "  The  man  who  sweeps 
the  church  makes  it  and  himself  to  be  clean." 

The  nation  is  made  up*  of  men  whose  daily  life  is  daily 
toil ;  and  no  one  represents  its  tone,  or  is  fit  to  govern  it,  who 
has  not  learned  by  bitter  trial  that  "  wealth  is  best  known 
by  want." 

Brave  souls  alone-can  enxlure  this  ordeal ;  the  feeble  would 
die  from  inanition;  the  bright  would  corrode  with  rust;  the 
impetuous  slide  into  crime-;  the  fanciful  fret  themselves  to 
death  in  chasing  the  chimeras  of  an  impracticable  imagin 
ation;  but  \\iefort  esprit  endures  and  waits. 


THE  FARMER.  89 

U.  S.  Grant,  with  his  family,  removed  to  Gravois,  south 
west  of  St.  Louis,  where  he  owned  and  worked  a  farm,  and 
from  whence  he  was  in  the  habit  of  cutting  wood,  drawing 
it  to  Carondelet,  and  selling  it  in  the  market  there. 

Many  of  his  wood  purchasers  are  now  calling  to  mind 
that  they  had  a  cord  of  wood  delivered  in  person  by  the 
great  General  Grant. 

"When  he  came  into  the  wood  market  he  was  usually 
dressed  in  an  old  felt  hat,  with  a  blouse  coat,  and  his  pants 
tucked  in  the  tops  of  his  boots.  In  truth,  he  bore  the 
appearance  of  a  sturdy,  honest  woodman.  This  was  his 
Winter's  work. 

In  the  Summer  he  turned  a  collector  of  debts;  but  for 
this  he  was  not  qualified.  He  had  a  noble  and  truthful 
soul;  so  when  he  was  told  that  the  debtor  had  no  money, 
he  believed  him,  and  would  not  trouble  the  debtor  again. 

How  many  of  the  illustrious  of  the  earth  have  endured 
the  same  discipline!  how  many  have  failed  to  be  illustrious 
because  they  have  shrunk  from  bearing  this  cross! 

At  the  age  of  thirty-six,  Grant  was  a  working  husband 
man  on  a  Missouri  farm. 

At  the  age  of  thirty-six,  Cromwell  was  a  farmer  at  St. 
Jves,  cultivating  his  fields,  multiplying  his  flocks  and 
herds. 

At  the  age  of  thirty-six,  Washington  was  a  planter,  rais 
ing  tobacco,  and  copying  his  accounts  with  mercantile 
neatness  and  precision. 

At  thirty-six,  Peter  the  Great  was  working  with  his  own 
hands,  as  a  common  shipwright,  in  the  dockyards  of  Am 
sterdam. 

Franklin  was  not  a  less  deliberate  and  cautious  states 
man,  because  at  thirty-six  he  had  been  a  patient  type-setter. 

Nor  was  Sherman  a  worse  counsellor  in  evil  times  for 
having,  at  the  same  age,  used  the  awl  and  the  wax-end. 


90 


STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 


How  many  have  emerged  from  the  humblest  positions  to 
the  foremost  ranks  of  our  citizenship! 

Our  barefooted  plowboys  rise  to  ride  the  Steed  of 
State,  and  wield  the  rod  of  republican  empire. 

Our  printing-press  sends  forth  its  Franklin;  our  shoe 
maker's  bench,  its  Hoger  Sherman ;  our  blacksmith's  forge, 
its  General  Greene;  our  rustic  inn,  its  General  Putnam; 
our  clockmaker's  stool,  its  John  Fitch;  our  little  grocery- 
shop,  its  Patrick  Henry;  the  rude  habitation  of  a  peasant 
noble,  in  the  midst  of  a  forest,  upon  a  frontier  of  civiliza 
tion,  its  Daniel  Webster;  the  shanty  of  a  humble  Irish 
emigrant  amid  the  wilds  of  the  Waxhaws,  its  President 
Andrew  Jackson;  a  lowly  cot  upon  the  t  slashes  of  the  Vir 
ginia  Hanover,'  its  Henry  Clay;  our  weaver's  loom,  its 
President  Fillmore;  our  machinist's  block,  its  self-taught 
representative  of  the  industrious  masses,  X.  P.  Banks. 

"  And  we  may  add,  that,  from  the  log-cabin  of  a  Kentucky 
backwoodsman,  Abraham  Lincoln  reaches  -the  chair  of 
President,  to  reflect  more  renown  than  he  could  inherit 
from  the  office,  by  subsequently  ascending  that  dais  in  the 
temple  of  the  world's  great  men,  which  only  belongs  to  de 
liverers  of  nations  and  martyrs  to  liberty,  and  to  the  re 
served  seat  upon  it,  which  from  the  beginning  had  awaited 
the  coining  of  the  emancipator  of  a  race." 


IN   ILLINOIS. 


Grant  as  a  Citizen  of  Illinois — His  Life  in  Galena— What  He  Knows 
About  Leather. 

During  the  year  1859 — twenty  years  ago — Grant  became 
a  citizen  of  Illinois,  choosing  the  City  of  Galena,  in  Jo 


GOING  TO  THE  STORE. 


Davicss  County,  as  his  place  of  abode,  where  he  engaged 

in  the  leather  trade  with  his  father  and  a  younger  brother. 

He  lived  in  "  a  cottage  on  the  hill,"  with  his  wife  and 

four  children,  walking  to  and  fro,  from  the   leather   store 


92  STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  OR  ANT. 

and  back  to  his  house  three  or  four  times  a  day;  saying,  al 
ways  with  decided  emphasis,  to  almost  every  casual  friend 
accompanying  him,  as  they  picked  their  broken  way,  U7/ 
/  am  ever  mayor  of  Galena  1  will  mend  lids  pavement." 

His  thorough  knowledge  of  the  leather  business  may  be 
inferred  from  the  following  stories: 

While  operating  in  the  vicinity  of  Yicksburg  his  pro 
fessed  political  friends  paid  a  visit  to  his  headquarters,  and 
after  a  short  time  spent  in  compliments,  they  touched  upon 
the  never-ending  subject  of  politics.  One  of  the  party  was 
in  the  midst  of  a  very  flowery  speech,  using  all  his  rhetori 
cal  powers  to  induce  the  general,  if  possible,  to  view  mat 
ters  in  the  same  light  as  himself,  when  he  was  suddenly 
stopped  by  Grant. 

u  There  is  no  use  of  talking  politics  to  me.  I  know 
nothing  about  them ;  and,  furthermore,  I  do  not  know  of 
any  person  among  my  acquaintances  who  does.  But,'' 
continued  he,  "  there  is  one  subject  with  whiph  I  am  per 
fectly  acquainted;  talk  of  that,  and  I  am  your  man?" 

uWhat  is  that,  General?"  asked  the  politicians,  in  great 
surprise. 

"  Tanning  leather,"  was  the  reply. 

The  subject  was  immediately  changed. 

On  another  occasion  an  infamous  proposal  was  made  by 
a  person  to  General  Grant  while  he  was  staying  at  his 
headquarters  "  in  the  field."  The  general,  irritated,  ad 
ministered  a  severe  kick  to  the  proposer,  with  the  toe  of 
his  great  cavalry  boot  ;  and,  after  the  fellow  had  been 
driven  from  the  tent,  one  of  his  staff  remarked  to  a  com 
panion,  that  he  did  not  think  the  general  had  hurt  the 
rascal. 

"  Never  fear,"  was  the  reply;  "  that  boot  never  foils  un 
der  such  circumstances,  for  the  leather  came  from  Grant's 
store,  in  Galena." 


N  ILLINOIS.  93 

General   Smith's     Graphic   Description   of    Grant's  Galena    Life  — 
Laughable   Reception   by   His   Regiment. 

Sitting  round  a  blazing  camp-fire  a  few  evenings  since, 
writes  a  gentleman  in  a  letter,  dated  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  April 
24,  1865,  several  Illinois  officers  related  their  experiences 
of  General  Grant  in  civil  life.  Here  is,  as  nearly  as  I  can 
recollect  it,  what  General  John  E.  Smith  said  on  the  sub 
ject  : 

u  I  don't  believe  any  man  in  Illinois  knew  Grant  better 
than  I  did,  and  I  think  I  had  quite  as  much  to  do  as  any 
other  man  in  bringing  him  into  the  war.  I  lived  in  Galena 
at  the  time.  Grant's  place  of  business  was  near  mine.  He 
kept  a  hardware  and  saddlery  store.  I  used  to  drop  in  to 
see  him  very  often  on  my  way  home,  and  he  and  I  would 
generally  smoke  our  pipes  together  in  his  office  adjoining 
his  store.  He  was  a  very  poor  business  man,  and  never 
liked  to  wait  on  customers.  If  a  customer  called  in  the 
absence  of  the  clerks,  he  would  tell  him  to  wait  a  few  min 
utes  till  one  of  the  clerks  returned;  and  if  he  couldn't 
wait,  the  General  would  go  behind  the  counter  very  reluct 
antly  and  drag  down  whatever  was  wanted;  but  he  hardly 
ever  knew  the  price  of  it,  and  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  lip 
charged  either  too  much  or  too  little.  He  would  rather 
talk  about  the  Mexican  War  than  wait  upon  the  best  cus 
tomer  in  the  world. 

"  When  the  war  broke  out,  I  told  him  one  day  that  I  was 
going  down  to  Springfield  to  see  Governor  Yates,  who  had 
sent  forme.  Grant  merely  remarked  in  a  quiet  way:  'You 
can  say  to  the  Governor  that  if  I  can  be  of  any  use  to  him 
in  the  organization  of  these  regiments  I  will  be  glad  to  do 
what  I  can.' 

"  I  went  to  Springfield,  ana  made  arrangements  for 
Grant  to  be  sent  for.  He  came  right  down  and  went  to 
work  to  organize  ten  regiments  called  out  as  a  sort  of  home 


94 


STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 


guard,  for  thirty  days  at  first,  but  afterwards  enlisted  for 
three  years.  "When  he  had  done  this  and  was  ready  to  go 
home,  Governor  Yates  offered  him  the  Colonelcy  of  the 
Twenty-first  Regiment,  one  of  the  ten.  He  accepted  it,  and 
immediately  went  to  camp. 


r 


THE  STATE  CAPITOL  AT  SPRINGFIELD,  ILL. 

"  I  went  with  him,  and  I  shall  never  forget  the  scene 
that  occurred  when  his  men  first  saw  him.  It  was  very 
laughable.  Grant  was  dressed  very  clumsily,  in  a  suit  of 
citizen's  clothes — an  old  coat  worn  out  at  the  elbows,  and 
a  badly-dinged  plug  hat.  His  men,  though  ragged  and 
barefooted  themselves,  had  formed  a  high  estimate  of  what 


IN  ILLINOIS.  95 

a  Colonel  ought  to  be;  and  when  Grant  walked  in  among 
them  they  began  making  fun  of  him.  They  cried  in  de 
rision  : 

"'Look  at  our  Colonel?'  'What  a  Colonel!'  <  Oh, 
what  a  Colonel!' — and  made  all  sorts  of  fun  of  him. 

"  A  few  of  them,  to  '  show  off'  to  the  others,  got  behind 
his  back  and  began  sparring  at  him;  and,  while  one  was 
doing  this,  another  gave  him  such  a  push  that  made  him 
hit  Grant  a  terrible  blow  between  the  shoulders. 

"  The  General  soon  showed  that  they  must  not  judge  the 
officer  by  the  uniform,  arid  before  he  got  through,  the  un 
ruly  fellows  felt  much  mortified. 

"  One  of  them  generously  confessed  that  it  was  all  in 
fun,  and  hoped  the  new  Colonel  wouldn't  get  mad  about  it. 
Grant  went  to  work  immediately,  arid  in  a  very  short  time 
had  his  men  clothed  and  fixed  up  in  good  style." 


IN    THE    REBELLION. 


Gov.  Yates'  Story  of  How  Grant   Got  into  the  Army. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1861,  Grant  heard  the  news  of 
the  fall  of  Sumter.  On  the  14th,  he  began  enrolling  re 
cruits;  on  the  19th,  he  was  drilling  his  volunteers  in  the 
streets;  on  the  23d,  he  marched  with  them  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  Illinois.  When  he  reached  this  place  he 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  adjutant-general  of  the  state,  rehears 
ing  his  antecedents,  and  offering  his  skill  and  experience 
in  arms  to  the  governor,  "  in  whatever  situation  he  may 
be  pleased  to  place  me." 

Having  received  no  reply  to  this  communication,  he 
presented  himself  in  person  to  Gov.  Yates,  and  solicited 
military  employment. 

"  In  presenting  himself  to  me,"  says  Gov.  Yates,  "  Grant 
made  no  reference  to  any  merits,  but  simply  said  he  had 
been  the  recipient  of  a  military  education  at  "West  Point; 
and,  now  that  the  country  was  assailed,  he  thought  it  his 
duty  to  offer  his  services;  and  that  he  would  esteem  it  a 
privilege  to  be  assigned  to  any  position  where  he  could  be 
useful. 

"  I  can  not  now  claim  to  myself  the  credit  of  having 
discerned  in  him  the  promise  of  great  achievements,  or  the 
qualities  '  which  minister  to  the  making  of  great  names,' 
more  than  in  many  others  who  proposed  to  enter  the  mili 
tary  service.  His  appearance  at  first  sight  is  not  striking. 
He  had  no  grand  airs, no  imposing  appearance;  and  I  con 
fess,  it  could  not  be  said  he  was  a  form — 


0(1 


UNFORGOTTEN. 

y? 


98  STORIES  AMD  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

"  *  Where  every  god  did  seem  to  set  his  seal 
To  give  the  world  assurance  of  a  man.' 

"  He  was  plain,  very  plain;  but  still  something — perhaps 
his  plain,  straightforward  modesty  and  earnestness — induced 
me  to  assign  him  a  desk  in  the  executive  office.  In  a  short 
time  I  found  him  to  be  an  invaluable  assistant  in  my  office 
and  in  that  of  the  adjutant-general.  He  was  soon  after 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  six  camps  of  organization 
and  instruction  which  I  had  established  in  the  state. 

"  Early  in  June,  1861,  I  telegraphed  him  at  Covington, 
Ky.  (where  he  had  gone  on  a  brief  visit  to  his  father), 
tendering  him  the  colonelcy  of  the  Twenty -first  Regiment 
of  Illinois  Infantry,  which  he  promptly  accepted;  and  on 
the  15th  of  June  he  assumed  the  command.  The  regiment 
had  become  much  demoralized  from  lack  of  discipline,  and 
contention  in  regard  to  promotions.  On  this  account  CoL 
Grant,  being  under  marching  orders,  declined  railroad  trans 
portation,  and,  for  the  sake  of  discipline,  marched  them  on 
foot  toward  the  scene  of  operations  in  Missouri;  and  in  a 
short  time  he  had  his  regiment  under  perfect  control." 


The  Reported    Story  that    Grant    Borrowed    Money  in  Gfralaaa  to 
Equip  Himself  for  the  War. 

Charles  A.  Washbtirne,  when  asked  if  he  had  ever  heard 
the  story  that  Elihu  Washburne  sent  General  Grant  money 
to  equip  himself  for  the  war,  replied: 

"  I  don't  know  much  about  their  financial  relations,  A 
prominent  man  in  Galena  told  me  this  : 

"  That  Grant  was  called  forward  to  preside  at  a  soldiers' 
meeting,  and  he  told  Elihu,  as  his  Congressman,  that  he 
thought  it  was  his  duty  to  go  into  the  army.  Elihu  gave  him 
a  letter  to  Gov.  Yates,  recommending  him  as  an  ex-officer 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  99 

of  the  regular  army,  who  had  graduated  at  West  Point,  and 
who  ought  to  have  a  regiment. 

"  My  informant  said  that  Yates  put  Grant  in  the  Adju 
tant's  office,  and  set  him  to  copying.  After  awhile  Grant 
said  to  the  Governor:  'You  can  get  a  man  to  do  this  work 
at  one  dollar  a  day,  and,  if  this  is  all  you  have  to  give  me, 
I  shall  go  back  to  Galena.' 

"  The  day  following  his  arrival  in  Galena  I  am  told  that 
a  gentleman  saw  Grant  between  daybreak  and  sunrise 
walking  with  Elihu  Washburne  down  to  the  railroad  depot. 

"The  train  which  leaves  Dunleith,  going  south,  comes 
through  Galena  very  early  in  the  morning.  My  brother 
Elihu  was  carrying  Grant's  carpet-bag,  and  going  to  the 
station  with  him. 

"  This  gentleman  says  he  saw  them  together,  and  says 
that  Elihu,  as  soon  as  Grant  came  back  from  Springfield, 
told  him  to  return  again  instantly  with  a  more  peremptory 
letter,  and  to  stay  until  Yates  would  give  him  a  regiment. 

u  If  that  is  true,  it  is  a  rather  significant  thing.  Grant 
might  have  become  a  mere  Lieutenant  or  Captain,  and  not 
have  pressed  his  way  to  the  front  as  soon  as  he  did." 


Grant's    First   Movements   in    the   Great  Rebellion,  and  his  First 
Little  Speech. 

Gen,  Grant's  first  movement  in  the  great  rebellion,  and 
it  is  a  singular  coincidence,  was  to  pitch  his  tent  in  Mexico. 
But  this  time  it  was  a  Missouri  village,  and  belonged  to 
the  Western  Department  of  the  Army,  under  the  authority 
of  Major  General  Fremont.  He  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  troops  at  this  point  July  31,  1861,  but  was  soon 
afterwards  transferred  from  Mexico  to  Ironton,  and  subse 
quently  to  Jefferson  City,  with  no  other  military  care,  thus 
far,  than  to  drill  and  discipline  his  own  regiment,  the 


100         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

Twenty-first  Illinois,  and  to  watch  the  machinations  of  the 
Missouri  rebels  and  partisan  gatherings,  armed  and  un 
armed,  in  complicity  with  treason. 

In  spite  of  Grant's  limited  acquaintance  with  political 
leaders,  his  qualifications  for  military  position  had  reached 
the  ears  of  lion.  Elihu  B.  Washburne,  who,  for  more  than 
twelve  years,«had  represented  the  Galena  district  in  Con 
gress,  but  to  whom  Grant  at  this  time  was  personally  un 
known  ;  and  upon  his  recommendation,  with  the  full 
approval  of  the  colleagues  whom  he  consulted,  Grant  was 
commissioned  by  President  Lincoln  brigadier-general  of 
volunteers. 

His  commission  was  to  bear  date  from  May,  1861;  and 
the  first  intimation  or  knowledge  which  Grant  received  of 
it  was  through  the  daily  newspapers. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1861,  he  assumed  command  of 
the  District  of  Southeast  Missouri,  with  headquarters  at 
Cairo.  Here  his  personal  responsibility  for  military  oper 
ations  begins. 

On  the  5th  of  September  he  heard  of  Folk's  demonstra 
tions  within  the  borders  of  his  district,  and  forthwith  tele 
graphed  the  fact  to  the  Kentucky  legislature,  and  to  his 
commanding  general  for  instructions;  saying  to  the  latter: 
"I  am  getting  ready  to  start  for  Paducah;  will  start  at  six 
and  a  half  o'clock:"  and,  later  in  the  afternoon,  "I  am  now 
ready  for  Paducah,  should  not  telegram  arrive  preventing 
the  movement.'"1 

He  receives  no  reply.  At  an  early  dawn  on  the  morning 
of  the  6th  of  September,  as  the  rebel  general,  Tilghman, 
was  drilling  recruits  in  camp  at  Paducah,  he  sees  the 
steamer  "Mound  City"  covered  with  blue  coats,  the  stars 
and  stripes  at  the  gaff,  looming  out  of  the  fog  which  had 
settled  on  the  Ohio.  He  abdicates  immediately,  and  hur 
ries  off  with  his  volunteers  bv  railroad  to  the  south.  Gen- 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  101 

eral  Grant  marches  a  detachment  ashore,  takes  possession 
of  the  rebel  munitions  of  war,  and  proclaims,  among  other 
things,  the  following  words: 

"I  am  come  among  you,  not  as  an  enemy,  but  as  your  fellow-citizen. 
Not  to  maltreat  you  nor  annoy  you,  but  to  respect  and  enforce  the  rights 
of  all  loyal  citizens.  An  enemy,  in  rebellion  against  our  common  gov 
ernment,  has  taken  possession  of,  and  planted  its  guns  on  the  soil  of  Ken 
tucky,  and  fired  upon  you.  Columbus  and  Hickman  are  in  his  hands. 
He  is  moving  upon  your  city.  I  am  here  to  defend  you  against  this  ene 
my,  to  assist  the  authority  and  sovereignty  of  your  government.  1  have 
nothing  to  do  with  opinions,  and  shall  deal  only  with  armed  rebellion,  and 
its  aiders  and  abettors.  You  can  pursue  your  usual  avocations  without 
fear.  The  strong  arm  of  the  government  is  here  to  protect  its  friends, 
and  punish  its  enemies.  Whenever  it  is  manifest  that  you  are  able  to 
defend  yourselves,  and  maintain  the  authority  of  the  government,  and 
protect  the  rights  of  loyal  citizens,  I  shall  withdraw  the  forces  under  my 
command." 

He  leaves  a  garrison  at  Paducah,  and  by  twelve  o'clock 
is  on  his  return  to  Cairo,  where  he  finds  permission  from 
Fremont  "to  move  on  to  Paducah  if  he  feels  strong 
enough!'' 

General  Grant,  when  in  camp  at  Cairo,  presented  little, 
in  fact  nothing,  of  the  gewgaws  and  trappings  which  are 
generally  attached  to  the  attire  of  a  general;  and  in  this 
respect  he  showed  a  marked  contrast  between  himself  and 
some  of  his  Bub-lieutenants,  whose  bright  buttons  and  glit 
tering  shoulder-straps  were  perfectly  resplendent.  The 
general,  instead,  would  move  about  the  camp  with  his 
attire  carelessly  thrown  on,  and  left  to  fall  as  it  pleased. 
In  fact,  he  seemed  to  care  nothing  at  all  about  his  personal 
appearance,  and  in  the  place  of  the-usual  military  hat  and 
'gold  cord,  he  wore  an  old  battered  black  hat,  generally  des 
ignated  as  a  "  stove-pipe,"  an  article  that  his  subordinates 


102          HToniES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

would  not  have  stooped  to  pick  up.  In  his  mouth  he  car 
ried  a  black-looking  cigar,  and  he  seemed  to  be  perpetually 
smoking. 


General    Grant's    Private    Letter    to    his   Father,  Describing   the 
Opening  Battle  at  Belmont. 

This  was  Grant's  first  battle  in  the  Rebellion.  To  his 
father  he  described  it  as  follows  : 

"Day  before  yesterday  I  left  Cairo  with  about  three 
thousand  men,  in  five  steamers,  convoyed  by  two  gunboats, 
and  proceeded  down  the  river  to  within  about  twelve  miles 
of  Columbus.  The  next  morning  the  boats  were  dropped 
down  just  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  the 
troops  debarked.  During  this  operation  our  gunboats  exer 
cised  the  reoels  by  throwing  shells  into  their  camps  and 
batteries.  When  all  ready,  we  proceeded  about  one  mile 
toward  Belmont,  opposite  Columbus,  when  I  formed  the 
troops  into  line,  and  ordered  two  companies  from  each  reg 
iment  to  deploy  as  skirmishers,  and  push  on  through  the 
woods  and  discover  the  position  of  the  enemy.  They  had 
gone  but  a  little  way  when  they  were  fired  upon,  and  the 
ball  may  be  said  to  have  fairly  opened. 

"The  whole  command,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
reserve,  was  then  deployed  in  like  manner  and  ordered  for 
ward.  The  order  was  obeyed  with  great  alacrity,  the  men 
all  showing  great  courage.  I  can  say  with  great  gratifica 
tion  that  every  colonel,  without  a  single  exception,  set  an 
example  to  their  commands  that  inspired  a  confidence  that 
will  always  insure  victory  when  there  is  the  slightest  pos 
sibility  of  gaining  one.  I  feel  truly  proud  to  command 
such  men. 

"From  here  we  fought  our  way  from  tree  to  tree  through 
the  woods  to  Belmont,  about  two  and  a  half  miles,  the  en- 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  103 

oiny  contesting  every  foot  of  ground.  Here  the  enemy 
had  strengthened  their  position  by  felling  the  trees  for  two 
or  three  hundred  yards,  and  sharpening  their  limbs,  making 
a  sort  of  abatis.  Our  men  charged  through,  making  the 
victory  complete,  giving  us  possession  of  their  camp  and 
garrison  equipage,  artillery,  and  everything  else. 

"We  got  a  great  many  prisoners.  The  majority,  how 
ever,  succeeded  in  getting  aboard  their  steamers  and  push 
ing  across  the  river.  We  burned  everything  possible  and 
started  back,  having  accomplished  all  that  we  went  for,  and 
even  more.  Belmont  is  entirely  covered  by  the  batteries 
from  Columbus,  and  is  worth  nothing  as  a  military  posi 
tion — can  not  be  held  without  Columbus. 

u  The  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  sending  a  force 'into  Missouri  to  cut  off  troops  I 
had  sent  there  for  a  special  purpose,  and  to  prevent  re-en 
forcing  Price. 

"  Besides  being  well  fortified  at  Columbus,  their  number 
far  exceeded  ours,  and  it  would  have  been  folly  to  have 
attacked  them.  We  found  the  Confederates  well  armed 
and  brave.  On  our  return,  stragglers,  that  had  been  left 
in  our  rear  (now  front)  fired  into  us,  and  more  recrossed 
the  river  and  gave  us  battle  for  a  full  mile,  and  afterward 
at  the  boats  wrhen  we  were  embarking. 

O 

u  There  was  no  hasty  retreating  or  running  away.  Tak 
ing  into  account  the  object  of  the  expedition,  the  victory 
was  complete.  It  has  given  us  confidence  in  the  officers 
and  men  of  this  command,  that  will  enable  us  to  lead  them 
in  any  future  engagement  without  fear  of  the  result.  Gen 
eral  McClernand  (who,  by  the  way,  acted  with  great  cool 
ness  and  courage  throughout,  and  proved  that  he  is  a  sol 
dier  as  well  as  a  statesman)  and  myself,  each  had  our  horses 
shot  under  us.  Most  of  the  field  officers  met  with  the  same 
loss,  beside  nearly  one  third  of  them  being  themselves 


104         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

killed  or  wounded.  As  near  as  I  can  ascertain,  our  loss 
was  about  ^two  hundred  and  fifty  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing." 


General  Grant's  Own  Description  of  the  Battle  of  Fort  Donelson. 

In  his  report  of  what  General  Grant's  guarded  lips  al 
ways  calls  "  the  terrible  conflict,"  the  battle  of  Fort  Don 
elson,  he  says: 

"  I  left  Fort  Henry  on  the  12th  instant,  with  a  force  of 
about  fifteen  thousand  men,  divided  into  two  divisions, 
under  the  command  of  Generals  McClernand  and  Smith. 
Six  regiments  were  sent  around  by  water  the  day  before, 
convoyed  by  a  gunboat  (or  boats),  and  with  instructions 
not  to  pass  it. 

The  troops  made  the  march  in  good  order,  the  head  of 
the  column  arriving  within  two  miles  of  the  fort  at  twelve 
o'clock  M.  At  this  point  the  enemy's  pickets  were  met  and 
driven  in.  The  fortifications  of  the  enemy  were  from  this 
point  gradually  approached  and  surrounded,  with  occasional 
skirmishing  on  the  line. 

The  following  day,  owing  to  the  non-arrival  of  the  gun 
boats  and  re-enforcements  sent  by  water,  no  attack  was 
made,  but  the  investment  was  extended  on  the  flanks  of  the 
enemy,  and  drawn  closer  to  his  works,  with  skirmishing  all 
day. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  13th,  the  gunboats  and  re-enforce 
ments  arrived. 

"  On  the  14th,  a  gallant  attack  was  made  by  Flag-Officer 
Foote  upon  the  enemy's  river  batteries  with  his  fleet.  The 
engagement  lasted  probably  one  hour  and  a  half,  and  bid 
fair  to  result  favorably,  when  two  unlucky  shots  disabled 
two  of  the  armored  boats,  so  that  they  were  carried  back 
by  the  current.  The  remaining  two  were  very  much  dis- 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  105 

abled,  also,  having  received  a  number  of  heavy  shots  about 
the  pilot-houses  and  other  parts  of  the  vessels. 

"  After  these  mishaps,  I  concluded  to  make  the  invest 
ment  of  Fort  Donelson  as  perfect  as  possible,  and  partially 
fortify,  and  await  repairs  to  the  gunboats.  This  plan  was 
frustrated,  however,  by  the  enemy -making  a  most  vigorous 
attack  upon  our  right  wing,  commanded  by  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  J.  A.  McClernand,  and  which  consisted  of  his  division 
and  a  portion  of  the  force  under  General  L.  "Wallace. 

"  The  enemy  were  repelled,  after  a  closely  contested 
battle  of  several  hours,  in  which  our  loss  was  heavy.  The 
officers  suffered  out  of  proportion.  I  have  not  the  means 
of  determining  our  loss,  even  approximately,  but  it  can  not 
fall  far  short  of  twelve  hundred  killed,  wounded,  and  miss 
ing.  Of  the  latter,  I  understand,  through  General  Buck- 
ner,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  were  taken  prisoners.  I 
shall  retain  here  enough  of  the  enemy  to  exchange  for 
them,  as  they  were  immediately  shipped  off,  and  not  left 
for  recapture. 

"  About  the  close  of  this  action  the  ammunition  and 
cartridge-boxes  gave  out,  which,  with  the  loss  of  many  of 
the  field  officers,  produced  great  confusion  in  the  ranks. 
Seeing  that  the  enemy  did  not  take  advantage  of  it,  con 
vinced  me  that  equal  confusion,  and,  consequently,  great 
demoralization,  existed  with  him.  Taking  advantage  of 
this  fact,  I  ordered  a  charge  upon  the  left  (enemy's  right) 
with  the  division  under  General  C.  F.  Smith,  which  was 
most  brilliantly  executed,  and  gave  to  our  arms  full  assur 
ance  of  victory. 

"  The  battle  lasted  until  dark,  and  gave  us  possession  of 
part  of  the  intrenchment.  An  attack  was  ordered  from  the 
other  flank  after  the  charge  by  General  Smith  was  com 
menced,  by  the  divisions  under  McClernand  and  Wallace, 
which,  notwithstanding  hours  of  exposure  to  a  heavy  fire  in 


106 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  107 

the  fore  part  of  the  day,  was  gallantly  made,  and  the  enemy 
further  repulsed.  At  the  points  thus  gained,  night  having 
come  on,  all  the  troops  encamped  for  the  night,  feeling 
that  a  complete  victory  would  crown  their  efforts  at  an 
early  hour  in  the  morning.  This  morning,  at  a  very  early 
hour,  a  note  was  received  from  General  Buckner,  under  a 
flag  of  truce,  proposing  an  armistice." 

General  Buckner's  u  note  "  to  Grant  on  this  occasion  read 
as  follows: 

"SiB:  In  consideration  of  all  the  circumstances  governing  the  pres 
ent  situation  of  affairs  at  this  station,  I  propose  to  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  Federal  forces  the  appointment  of  commissioners,  to  agree 
upon  terms  of  capitulation  of  the  forces  and  post  under  my  command, 
and  in'that  view  suggest  an  armistice  until  twelve  o'clock  to-day." 

To  which  General  Grant  replied: 

"SiR:  Yours  of  this  date  proposing  armistice  and  appointment  of 
commissioners  to  settle  terms  of  capitulation,  is  just  received.  No 
terms  except  unconditional  and  immediate  surrender  can  be  accepted. 
I  propose  to  move  immediately  upon  your  works?' 

General  .Buckner  surrendered  at  once  his  claims  to  Fort 
Donelson,  with  about  fifteen  thousand  prisoners,  forty 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  large  amount  of  stores,  horses, 
mules,  arid  other  public  property. 

After  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson,  Sherman  congratulated 
Grant  warmly  on  his  success,  and  Grant  replied: 

"•  I  feel  under  many  obligations  to  you  for  the  kind 
terms  of  your  letter,  and  hope  that  should  an  opportunity 
occur,  you  will  earn  for  yourself  that  promotion  which  you 
are  kind  enough  to  say  belongs  to  me.  I  care  nothing  for 
promotion  so  long  as  our  arms  are  successful,  and  no 
political  appointments  are  made." 

This  was  the  beginning  of  a  friendship  destined  there 
after  never  to  flag,  to  stand  the  test  of  apparent  rivalry  and 


108         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT 

public  censure,  to  remain  firm  under  trials  such  as  few 
friendships  were  eVer  subjected  to,  to  become  warmer  as 
often  as  it  was  sought  to  be  interrupted,  and  -in  hours  of 
extraordinary  anxiety  arid  responsibility  and  care,  to  afford 
a  solace  and  a  support  that  were  never  lacking  when  the 
need  arose. 


The  Race — Parallel  Generals— On  a  Four-Year    Race  Grant 
Comes  In  Ahead. 

The  following  table  exhibits  the  relative  position  of  Gen 
eral  Grant  on  May  IT,  1861,  with  the  others  of  the  same 
rank,  appointed  on  the  same  day,  and  how  each  of  these 
generals  was  employed  towards  the  close  of  the  war.  It 
will  be  noted  that  U.  S.  Grant  stood  No.  17 — just  halfway 
down  the  list — at  the  time  he  received  his  brigadier-gen 
eral's  commission.  Before  the  war  closed,  General  Grant 
was  commanding  as  much  territory  and  as  many  troops  as 
all  the  other  thirty-three  generals  combined : 

GENERALS.  JANUARY   1,  1864. 

Samuel  P.  Heintzelman Not  in  active  field  service. 

Erasmus  D.  Keyes do.  do. 

Andrew  Porter do.  do. 

Fitz  John  Porter Cashiered. 

Wm.  B.  Franklin Commanding  19th  Army  Corps. 

Wm.  T.  Sherman Commanding  a  Department  under 

General  Grant. 

Charles  P.  Stone _ .  Chief  of  Staff  to  General  Banks. 

Don  Carlos  Buell... ..Not  in  active  field  service. 

Thomas  W.  Sherman Temporarily  invalided. 

James  Oakes Not  in  service. 

John  Pope Commanding    Department    of  the 

Northwest. 

George  A.  McCall Resigned. 

William  R.  Montgomery Not  in  active  field  service. 

Philip  Kearney Dead. 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  109 

GENERALS.  JANUARY  1,  1864. 

Joseph  Hooker .Commanding Grand  Division  under 

General  Grant. 

John  W.  Phelps. Resigned. 

ULYSSES  S.  GRANT . 

Joseph  J.  Reynolds ._ Commanding  troops  at  New  Or- 

leans. 

Samuel  R.  Curtis Not  in  active  field  service. 

Charles  S.  Hamilton do.  do. 

Darius  N.  Couch Commanding  Department  of  the 

Susquehanna. 

Rufus  King Foreign  Minister. 

J.  D.  Cox_. ...Commanding  Corps  under  General 

Grant. 

Stephen  A.  Hurlbut .Commanding  Corps  under  Genera) 

Grant. 

Franz  Sigel Not  in  active  field  service. 

Robert  C.  Schenck In  Congress. 

B.  M.  Prentiss Resigned. 

Frederick  W.  Lander.  _  _ Dead. 

Benj.  F.  Kelly Commanding  Department  of  West 
ern  Virginia. 

John  A.  McClernand Not  in  active  field  service. 

A.  S.Williams Commanding  a  Division. 

I.  B.  Richardson Dead. 

William  Sprague Declined. 

James  Cooper Dead. 


General  Grant's  Words  to  the  "  Grand  Army." 

After  General  Grant's  investment  with  almost  unlimited 
authority,  he  utters  the  following  words  to  the  men  in  the 
field: 

"  The  major-general  commanding  this  department  desires 
to  impress  upon  all  officer*  the  importance  of  preserving 
good  order  and  discipline  among  these  troops  and  the 
armies  of  the  West,  during  their  advance  into  Tennessee 
and  the  Southern  {States, 


110        STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  OH  ANT. 

"  Let  us  show  to  our  fellow-citizens  of  these  states,  that 
we  come  merely  to  crush  out  this  rebellion,  and  to  restore 
to  them  peace  and  the  benefits  of  the  Constitution  and  the 
Union,  of  which  they  have  been  deprived  by  selfish  and 
unprincipled  leaders.  They  have  been  told  that  we  come 
to  oppress  and  plunder.  By  our  acts  we  will  undeceive 
them.  We  will  prove  to  them  that  we  come  to  restore,  not 
to  violate,  the  Constitution  and  the  laws.  In  restoring  to 
them  the  glorious  flag  of  the  Union,  we  will  assure  them 
that  they  shall  enjoy,  under  its  folds,  the  same  protection 
of  life  and  property  as  in  former  days. 

"  Soldiers  !  Let  no  excesses,  on  your  part  tarnish  the  glory 
of  our  arms!  The  orders  heretofore  issued  from  this  depart 
ment  in  regard  to  pillaging,  marauding,  and  the  destruc 
tion  of  private  property,  and  the  stealing  and  concealment 
of  slaves,  must  be  strictly  enforced.  It  does  not  belong  to 
the  military  to  decide  upon  the  relation  of  master  and 
slave.  Such  questions  must  be  settled  by  the  civil  courts. 

"  No  fugitive  slave  will,  therefore,  be  admitted  within 
our  lines  or  camps,  except  when  especially  ordered  by  the 
general  commanding.  Women  and  children,  merchants, 
farmers,  and  all  persons  not  in  arms,  are  to  be  regarded 
as  non-combatants,  and  are  not  to  be  molested,  either  in 
their  persons  or  property.  If,  however,  they  assist  and  aid 
the  enemy,  they  become  belligerents,  and  will  be  treated 
as  such.  As  they  violate  the  laws  of  war,  they  will  be 
made  to  suffer  the  penalties  of  such  violation. 

"  Military  stores  and  public  property  of  the  enemy  must 
be  surrendered;  and  any  attempt  to  conceal  such  property 
by  fraudulent  transfer  or'otherwise  will  be  punished.  But 
no  private  property  will  be  touched,  unless  by  order  of  the 
general  commanding. 

"  Whenever  it  becomes  necessary,  forced  contributions  for 
supplies  and  subsistence  for  our  troops  will  be  made.  Such 


IN  THE  REBELLION. 


levies  will  be  made  as  light  as  possible,  and  be  su  distribu 
ted  as  to  produce  no  distress  among  the  people.  All  prop 
erty  so  taken  must  be  receipted  fully  and  accepted  for  as 
heretofore  directed." 


The  Shiloh  Victory,  as  Described  by  an  Eye-witness. 

An  eye-witness  of  this  terrific  battle,  who  wrote  the  first 
account  which  appeared  in  print,  describes  the  thrilling 
scene,  dated  April  9,  as  follows : 

One  of  the  greatest  and  bloodiest  battles  of  modern 
days  has  just  closed,  resulting  in  the  complete  rout  of  the 
enemy,  who  attacked  us  at  daybreak  Sunday  morning. 

The  battle  lasted,  without  intermission,  during  the  entire 
day,  and  was  again  renewed  on  Monday  morning,  and  con 
tinued  undecided  until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when 
the  enemy  commenced  their  retreat,  and  are  still  flying 
towards  Corinth,  pursued  by  a  large  force  of  our  cavalry. 

The  slaughter  on  both  sides  is  immense.  We  have  lost, 
in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  from  eighteen  to  twenty 
thousand;  that  of  the  enemy  is  estimated  at  from  thirty- 
five  to  forty  thousand. 

It  is  impossible,  in  the  present  confused  state  of  affairs, 
to  ascertain  any  of  the  details;  I,  therefore,  give  you  the 
best  account  possible  from  observation,  having  passed 
through  the  storm  of  action  during  the  two  days  that  it 
raged. 

The  fight  was  brought  on  by  a  body  of  three  hundred  of 
the  Twenty-fifth  Missouri  Regiment,  of  General  Prentiss' 
Division,  attacking  the  advance  guard  of  the  rebels,  which 
were  supposed  to  be  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  in  front  of 
our  camps. 

The  rebels  immediately  advanced  on  General  Prentiss' 


112         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

Division  on  the  left  wing,  pouring  volley  after  volley  of 
musketry,  and  riddling  our  camps  with  grape,  canister, 
and  shell.  Our  forces  soon  formed  into  line  and  returned 
their  fire  vigorously.  By  the  time  we  were  prepared  to 
receive  them,  the  rebels  had  turned  their  heaviest  fire  on 
the  left  center,  Sherman's  Division,,  and  drove  our  men 
back  from  their  camps;  then,  bringing  up  a  fresh  force, 
opened  fire  on  our  left  wing,  under  General  McClernand. 
Tliis  h're  was  returned  with  terrible  effect  and  determined 
spirit  by  both  infantry  and  artillery,  along  the  whole  line, 
for  a  distance  of  over  four  miles. 

General  Hurlbut's  division  was  thrown  forward  to  sup 
port  the  center,  when  a  desperate  conflict  ensued.  The 
rebels  were  driven  back  with  terrible  slaughter,  but  soon 
rallied  and  drove  back  our  men  in  turn.  From  about  nine 
o'clock,  the  time  your  correspondent  arrived  on  the  field, 
until  night  closed  on  the  bloody  scene,  there  was  no  deter 
mination  of  the  result  of  the  struggle. 

The  rebels  exhibited  remarkably  good  generalship.  At 
times  engaging  the  left,  with  apparently  their  whole 
strength,  they  would  suddenly  open  a  terrible  and  destruct 
ive  fire  on  the  right  or  centre.  Even  our  heaviest  and 
most  destructive  fire  upon  the  enemy  did  not  appear  to  dis 
courage  their  solid  columns.  The  fire  of  Major  Taylor's 
Chicago  Artillery  raked  them  down  in  scores,  but  the 
smoke  would  no  sooner  be, dispersed  than  the  breach  would 
again  be  filled. 

The  most  desperate  fighting  took  place  late  in  the  after 
noon.  The  rebels  knew  that,  if  they  did  not  succeed  in 
whipping  us  then,  their  chances  for  success  would  be  ex 
tremely  doubtful,  as  a  portion  of  Gen.  Buell's  forces  had  by 
this  time  arrived  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and 
another  portion  was  coming  up  the  river  from  Savannah. 
They  became  aware  that  we  were  being  re-eiiforced,  as  they 


JT2V  THE  REBELLION.  113 

could  see  General  Buell's  troops  from  the  river  bank,  a 
short  distance  above  us  on  the  left,  to  which  point  they 
had  forced  their  way. 

At  five  o'clock  the  rebels  had  forced  our  left  wing  back 
so  as  to  occupy  fully  two  thirds  of  our  camp,  and  were 
fighting  their  way  forward  with  a  desperate  degree  of  con 
fidence  in  their  efforts  to  drive  us  into  the  river,  and  at 
the  same  time  heavily  engaged  our  right. 

Up  to  this  time  we  had  received  no  re-enforcements, 
General  Lewis  Wallace  failing  to  come  to  our  support  until 
the  day  was  over.  Being  without  other  transports  than 
those  used  for  quartermaster's  and  commissary  stores, 
which  were  too  heavily  laden  to  ferry  any  considerable 
number  of  General  Buell's  forces  across  the  river,  and  the 
boats  that  were  here  having  been  sent  to  bring  up  the 
troops  from  Savannah,  we  could  not  even  get  those  men  to 
us  who  were  so  near,  and  anxiously  waiting  to  take  part  in 
the  struggle.  We  were,  therefore,  contesting  against  fear 
ful  odds,  our  force  not  exceeding  thirty-eight  thousand  men, 
while  that  of  the  enemy  was  upwards  of  sixty  thousand. 

Our  condition  at  this  moment  was  extremely  critical. 
Large  numbers  of  men  panic  struck,  others  worn  out  by 
hard  fighting,  with  the  average  percentage  of  skulkers,  had 
straggled  towards  the  river,  and  could  not  be  rallied. 

General  Grant  and  staff,  who  had  been  recklessly  riding 
along  the  lines  during  the  entire  day,  amid  the  unceasing 
storm  of  bullets,  grape,  and  shell,  now  rode  from  right  to 
left,  inciting  the  men  to  stand  firm  until  our  re-enforce 
ments  could  cross  the  river. 

Colonel  Webster,  Chief  of  Staff,  immediately  got  into 
position  the  heaviest  pieces  of  artillery,  pointing  on  the 
enemy's  right,  while  a  large  number  of  the  batteries  were 
planted  along  the  entire  line,  from  the  river  bank  north 
west  to  our  extreme  right,  some  two  and  a  half  miles  dis- 
8 


114         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

tant.  About  an  hour  before  dusk  a  general  cannonading 
was  opened  upon  the  enemy,  from  along  our  whole  line, 
with  a  perpetual  crack  of  musketry.  Such  a  roar  of  artil 
lery  was  never  heard  on  this  continent.  For  a  short  time 
the  rebels  replied  with  vigor  and  effect,  but  their  return 
shots  grew  less  frequent  and  destructive,  while  ours  grew 
more  rapid  and  more  terrible. 

The  gunboats  Lexington  arid  Tyler,  which  lay  a  short 
distance  off,  kept  raining  shell  on  the  rebel  hordes.  This 
last  effort  was  too  much  for  the  enemy,  and  ere  dusk  had 
set  in  the  firing  had  nearly  ceased,  when,  night  coming  on, 
all  the  combatants  rested  from  their  awful  work  of  blood 
and  carnage. 

Our  men  rested  on  their  arms  in  the  position  they  had 
at  the  close  of  the  night,  until  the  forces  under  Major-Gen 
eral  Lewis  Wallace  arrived  and  took  position  on  the  right, 
and  General  Buell's  forces  from  the  opposite  side  and 
Savannah,  were  being  conveyed  to  the  battle-ground.  The 
entire  right  of  General  Kelson's  division  was  ordered  to 
form  on  the  right,  and  the  forces  under  General  Crittenden 
were  ordered  to  his  support  early  in  the  morning. 

General  Buell,  having  himself  arrived  on  Sunday  even 
ing,  on  the  morning  of  Monday,  April  7,  the  ball  was 
opened  at  daylight,  simultaneously  by  General  Nelson's  di 
vision  on  the  left,  and  Major-General  Wallace's  division  on 
the  right.  General  Nelson's  force  opened  up  a  most  gall- 
ing  fire  on  the  rebels,  and  advanced  rapidly  as  they  fell 
back.  The  fire  soon  became  general  along  the  whole  line, 
and  began  to  tell  with  terrible  effect  on  the  enemy.  Gen 
erals  McClernand,  Sherman,  and  Ilurlbut's  men,  though 
terribly  jaded  from  the  previous  day's  fighting,  still  main 
tained  their  honors  won  atDonelson;  but  the  resistance  of 
the  rebels  at  all  points  of  the  attack  was  terrible,  and  worthy 
of  a  better  cause. 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  115 

But  they  were  not  enough  for  our  undaunted  bravery 
and  the  dreadful  desolation  produced  by  our  artillery,  which 
was  sweeping  them  away  like  chaff  before  the  wind.  But 
knowing  that  a  defeat  here  would  be  the  death-blow  to  their 
hopes,  and  that  their  all  depended  on  this  great  struggle, 
their  generals  still  urged  them  on  in  the  face  of  destruction, 
hoping  by  flanking  us  on  the  right  to  turn  the  tide  of  bat 
tle.  Their  success  wras  again  for  a  time  cheering,  as  they 
began  to  gain  ground  on  us,  appearing  to  have  been  re-en 
forced;  but  our  left,  under  General  Nelson,  was  driving 
them,  and  with  wonderful  rapidity,  and  by  eleven  o'clock 
General  Buell's  forces  had  succeeded  in  flanking  them  and 
capturing  their  batteries  of  artillery. 

They,  however,  again  rallied  on  the  left,  and  recrossed, 
and  the  right  forced  themselves  forward  in  another  des 
perate  effort.  But  re-enforcements  from  General  Wood 
and  General  Thomas  were  coming  in,  regiment  after  regi 
ment,  which  were  sent  to  General  Buell,  who  had  again 
commenced  to  drive  the  enemy. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  General  Grant  rode 
to  the  left  where  the  fresh  regiments  had  been  ordered, 
and,  finding  the  rebels  wavering,  sent  a  portion  of  his  body 
guard  to  the  head  of  each  of  five  regiments,  and  then 
ordered  a  charge  across  the  field,  himself  leading;  and  as 
he  brandished  his  sword  and  waved  them  on  to  the  crown 
ing  victory,  the  cannon  balls  were  falling  like  hail  around 
him. 

The  men  followed  with  a  shout  that  sounded  above  the 
roar  and  din  of  the  artillery,  and  the  rebels  fled  in  dismay 
as  from  a  destroying  avalanche,  and  never  made  another 
stand. 

General  Buell  followed  the  retreating  rebels,  driving  them 
in  splendid  style,  and  by  half-past  five  o'clock  the  whole 
rebel  army  was  in  full  retreat  to  Corinth,  with  our  cavalry 


liC         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

in  hot  pursuit,  with  what  further  result  is  not  known,  not 
having  returned  up  to  this  hour. 

We  have  taken  a  large  amount  of  their  artillery  and  also 
a  number  of  prisoners.  We  lost  a  number  of  our  forces 
prisoners  yesterday,  among  whom  is  General  Prentiss.  The 
number  of  our  force  taken  has  not  yet  been  ascertained.  It 
is  reported  at  several  hundred.  General  Prentiss  was  also 
reported  as  being  wounded.  Among  the  killed  on  the 
rebel  side,  was  their  General-in-Chief,  Albert  Sydney 
Johnston,  who  was  struck  by  a  cannon  ball  on  the  after 
noon  of  Sunday.  Of  this  there  is  no  doubt,  and  it  is  fur 
ther  reported  that  General  Beauregard  was  wounded. 

This  afternoon,  Generals  Bragg,  Breckinridge  and  Jack 
son  were  commanding  portions  of  the  rebel  forces. 

There  has  never  been  a  parallel  to  the  gallantry  and  bear 
ing  of  our  officers,  from  the  commanding  general  to  the 
lowest  officer. 

General  Grant  and  staff  were  in  the  field,  riding  along 
the  lines  in  the  thickest  of  the  enemy's  fire  during  the  en 
tire  two  days  of  the  battle,  and  all  slept  on  the  ground  Sun 
day  night,  during  a  heavy  rain.  On  several  occasions 
General  Grant  got  within  range  of  the  enemy's  guns  and 
was  discovered  and  fired  upon. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  McPherson  had  his  horse  shot  from 
under  him  when  alongside  of  General  Grant. 

Captain  Carson  was  between  General  Grant  and  your 
correspondent  when  a  cannon  ball  took  off  his  head  and 
killed  and  wounded  several  others. 

General  Sherman  had  two  horses  killed  under  him,  and 
General  McClernand  shared  like  dangers;  also  General 
Hurlbut,  each  of  whom  received  bullet  holes  through  their 
clothes. 

The  following  compliment  from  Washington  was  sent  at 
the  close  of  the  battle: 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  117 

"  The  thanks  of  the  Department  are  hereby  given  to 
Major-Generals  Grant  and  Buell  and  their  forces,  for  the 
glorious  remilseof  Beauregard  at  Pittsburg,  in  Tennessee." 


The  Siege  of  Corinth— An  Eloquent  Description  by  a  Participant. 

A  graphic  description  of  what  constitutes  a  battle  and 
of  what  occurred  at  Corinth  is  given  by  one  who  partici 
pated,  as  follows: 

"  First,  the  enemy  must  be  driven  back.  Regiments  and 
artillery  are  placed  in  position,  and  generally  the  cavalry  is 
in  advance,  but  when  the  opposing  forces  are  in  close  prox 
imity  the  infantry  does  the  work.  The  whole  front  is  cov 
ered  by  a  cloud  of  skirmishers,  and  then  reserves  are  formed, 
and  then,  in  connection  with  the  main  linei,  they  advance. 
For  a  moment  all  is  still  as  the  grave  to  those  in  the  back 
ground;  as  the  line  moves  on,  the  eye  is  strained  in  vain 
to  follow  the  skirmishers  as  they  creep  silently  forward; 
then,  from  some  point  of  line,  a  single  rifle  rings  through 
the  forest,  sharp  and  clear,  and,  as  if  in  echo,  another 
answers  it.  In  a  moment  more  the  whole  line  resounds 
with  the  din  of  arms.  Here  the  fire  is  slow  and  steady, 
there  it  rattles  with  fearful  rapidity,  and  this  mingled  with 
the  great  roar  of  the  reserves  as  the  skirmishers  chance  at 
any  point  to  be  driven  in;  and  if,  by  reason  of  superior 
force,  these  reserves  fall  back  to  the  main  force,  then  every 
nook  and  corner  seems  full  of  sound.  The  batteries  open 
their  terrible  voices,  and  their  shells  sing  horribly  while 
winging  their  flight,  and  their  dull  explosion  speaks  plainly 
of  death;  their  canister  and  grape  go  crashing  through  the 
trees,  rifles  ring,  the  muskets  roar,  and  the  din  is.  terrific. 
Then  the  slackening  of  the  fire  denotes  the  withdrawing  of 
the  one  party,  and  the  more  distant  picket-firing,  that  the 
work  was  accomplished.  The  silence  becomes  almost  pain- 


lib         b'WlilES  AND  bKEICUEti  OF  GEN.  GRANT 

fill  after  such  a  scene  as  this,  and  no  one  can  conceive  of 
the  effect  who  has  not  experienced  it;  it  can  not  be  des- 
crihed.  The  occasional  firing  of  pickets,  which  shows  that 
the  new  lines  are  established,  actually  occasions  a  sense  of 
relief.  The  movements  of  the  mind  under  such  circum 
stances  are  sudden  and  strong.  It  awaits  with  intense 
anxiety  the  opening  of  the  contest,  it  rises  with  the  din  of 
battle,  it  sinks  with  the  lull  which  follows  it,  and  finds 
itself  in  fit  condition  to  sympathize  most  deeply  with  the 
torn  and  bleeding  ones  which  are  fast  being  borne  to  the 
rear. 

"  When  the  ground  is  clear,  then  the  time  for  working 
parties  has  arrived,  and,  as  this  is  the  description  of  a  real 
scene,  let  me  premise  that  the  works  were  to  reach  through 
the  center  of  a  large  open  farm  of  at  least  three  hundred 
acres,  surrounded  by  woods,  one  side  of  it  being  occupied 
by  rebel  pickets.  These  had  been  driven  back  as  I  have 
described. 

"  The  line  of  the  works  was  selected,  and  at  the  word 
of  command  three  thousand  men,  with  axes,  spades,  and 
picks,  stepped  out  into  the  open  field  from  their  cover  in 
the  woods;  in  almost  as  short  a  time  as  it  takes  to  tell  it, 
the  fence-rails  which  surrounded  and  divided  three  hun 
dred  acres  into  convenient  farm  lots  were  on  the  shoulders 
of  the  men,  and  on  the  way  to  the  intended  line  of  woiks. 
In  a  few  moments  more  a  long  line  of  crib-work  stretches 
over  the  slope  of  the  hill,  as  if  another  anaconda  fold  had 
been  twisted  around  the  rebels.  Then,  as  for  a  time,  the 
ditches  deepen,  the  cribs  fill  up,  the  dirt  is  packed  on  the 
other  side,  the  bushes  and  all  points  of  concealment  are 
cleared  from  the  front,  and  the1  center  divisions  of  <>m 
army  had  taken  a  long  stride  towards  the  rebel  works. 
The  siege-guns  are  brought  up  and  placed  in  commanding 
positions.  A  log  house  furnishes  the  hewn  and  seasoned 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  119 

timber  for  the  platforms,  and  the  plantation  of 'a  Southern 
lord  has  been  thus  speedily  transferred  into  one  of  Uncle 
Sam's  strongholds,  where  the  stars  and  stripes  float  proudly. 
Thus  had  the  whole  army  (under  the  immediate  charge  of 
General  Grant,  the  commander  in  the  Held)  worked  itself 
up  into  the  very  teeth  of  the  rebel  works,  and  rested  there 
on  Thursday  night,  the  twenty-eighth,  expecting  a  general 
engagement  at  any  moment. 

"  Soon  after  daylight,  on  Friday  morning,  the  army  was 
startled  by  rapid  and  long-continued  explosions,  similar  to 
musketry,  but  much  louder.  The  conviction  flashed  across 
my  mind  that  the  .rebels  were  blowing  up  their  loose  am 
munition  and  leaving.  The  dense  smoke  arising  in  the 
direction  of  Corinth  strengthened  this  belief,  and  soon  the 
whole  army  was  advancing  on  a  grand  reconnoissance.  The 
distance  through  the  woods  was  short,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
shouts  arose  from  the  rebel  lines,  which  told  that  our  army 
was  in  the  enemy's  trenches.  Regiment  after  regiment 
pressed  on,  and,  passing  through  extensive  camps  just 
vacated,  soon  reached  Corinth  and  found  half  of  it  in 
flames.  Beauregard  and  Bragg  had  left  the  afternoon  be 
fore,  and  the  rear  guard  had  passed  out  of  the  town  before 
daylight,  leaving  enough  stragglers  to  commit  many  acts 
of  vandalism,  at  the  expense  of  private  property.  They 
burned  churches  and  other  public  buildings,  private  goods, 
stores  and  other  dwellings,  and  choked  up  half  the  wells 
in  town.  •  In  the  camps  immediately  around  the  town 
there  were  few  evidences  of  hasty  retreat,  but  on  the  right 
flank,  where  Price  and  Yan  Dorn  were  encamped,  the  des 
truction  of  baggage  and  stores  was  very  great,  showing 
precipitate  flight.  Portions  of  our  army  were  immediately 
put  in  pursuit. 

"  It  seems  that  it  was  the  slow  and  careful  approach  of 
General  Haileck  which  caused  the  retreat.  They  would 


120        STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  Of  GEN.  OR  ANT. 

doubtless  have  remained  had  we  attacked  their  positions 
without  first  securing  our  rear,  but  they  could  not  stand  a 
siege.  Their  position  was  a  most  commanding  one  and 
well  protected." 


A  Confederate's  Graphic  Story  of  the  Battle  of  luka. 

A  confederate  soldier  who  took  part  in  the  struggle  at 
luka,  gives  the  following  description  in  a  private  letter  to 
a  friend: 

"  We  held  peaceable  possession  of  luka  for  one  day,  and 
on  the  next  were  alarmed  by  the  booming  of  cannon,  and 
were  called  out  to  spend  the  evening  in  battle  array  in  the 
woods.  On  the  evening  of  the  19th,  when  we  supposed  we 
were  going  back  to  camp,  to  rest  awhile,  the  sharp  crack  of 
musketry  on  the  right  of  our  former  lines,  told  us  that  the 
enemy  was  much  nearer  than  we  imagined.  In  fact,  they 
almost  penetrated  the  town  itself.  How  on  earth,  with  the 
woods  full  of  our  cavalry,  they  could  have  approached  so 
near  our  lines,  is  a  mystery.  They  had  planted  a  battery 
sufficiently  near  to  shell  General  Price's  head-quarters,  and 
were  cracking  away  at  the  Third  Brigade  when  the  Fourth 
came  up  at  double-quick,  and  then,  for  two  hours  and  fif 
teen  minutes,  was  kept  up  the  most  terrific  fire  of  musketry 
that  ever  dinned  my  ears.  There  was  one  continuous  roar 
of  small  arms,  while  grape  and  canister  howled  in  fearful 
concert  above  our  heads  and  through  our  ranks.  Genera* 
Little  was  shot  dead  early  in  the  action.  * 

It  was  a  terrible  struggle,  and  we  lost  heavily.  All  night 
could  be  heard  the  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying,  form 
ing  a  sequel  of  horror  and  agony  to  the  deadly  struggle, 
over  which  night  had  kindly  thrown  its  mantle.  Saddest 
of  all,  our  dead  were  left  unburied,  and  many  of  the 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  1 2 1 

wounded  on  the  battle-field  to  be  taken  in  charge  by  the 
enemy. 

"  Finding  that  the  enemy  were  being  re-enforced  from 
the  north,  and  as  our  strength  would  not  justify  us  in  try 
ing  another  battle,  a  retreat  was  ordered,  and  we  left  the 
town  during  the  night.  The  enemy  pressed  our  rear  the 
next  day,  and  were  only  kept  off  by  grape  arid  canister. 

"  It  grieves  me  to  state  that  acts  of  vandalism,  disgrace 
ful  to  any  army,  were,  however,  perpetrated  along  the  line 
of  retreat,  and  makes  me  blush  to  own  such  men  as  my 
countrymen.  Corn-fields  were  laid  waste,  potato  patches 
robbed,  barn-yards  and  smoke-houses  despoiled,  hogs  killed, 
and  all  kinds  of  outrages  perpetrated  in  broad  daylight  and 
in  full  view  of  the  officers.  The  advance  and  retreat  were 
alike  disgraceful,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  women  and 
children  along  the  route  will  cry  for  the  bread  which  has 
been  rudely  taken  from  them  by  those  who  should  have 
protected  and  defended  them." 


General  Grant's  Address. 

After,  the  victory,  of  what  General  Grant  calls  the 
"  Memorable  Field  of  luka,"  he  addressed — with  his  pen 
— his  fellow  soldiers  in  the  following  eloquent  words: 

"  The  general  commanding  takes  great  pleasure  in  con 
gratulating  two  wings  of  the  army,  commanded  respect 
ively  by  Major-General  Ord  and  Major-General  Hosecrans, 
upon  the  energy,  alacrity,  and  bravery  displayed  by  them 
on  the  19th  and  20th  inst.,  in  their  movement  against  the 
enemy  at  luka.  Although  the  enemy  was  in  numbers 
reputed  far  greater  than  their  own,  nothing  was  evinced 
by  the  troops  but  a  burning  desire  to  meet  him,  whatever 
his  numbers,  and  however  strong  his  position. 


122         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

"  With  such  a  disposition  as  was  manifested  by  the  troops 
on  this  occasion,  their  commanders  need  never  fear  detbat 
against  anything  but  overwhelming  numbers. 

"  While  it  was  the  fortune  of  the  command  of  General 
Rosecraris,  on  the  evening  of  the  19th  inst.,  to  engage  the 
enemy  in  a  most  spirited  fight  for  more  than  two  hours, 
driving  him,  with  great  loss,  from  his  position,  and  win 
ning  for  themselves  fresh  laurels,  the  command  of  General 
Ord  is  entitled  to  equal  credit  for  their  efforts  in  trying  to 
reach  the  enemy,  and  in  diverting  his  attention. 

"  And  while  congratulating  the  noble  living,  it  is  meet 
to  offer  our  condolence  to  the  friends  of  the  heroic  dead, 
who  offered  their  lives  a  sacrifice  in  defense  of  constitu 
tional  liberty,  arid  in  their  fall  rendered  memorable  the 
field  of  luka." 


Explosion  of   the   Great   Vicksbarg    Mine    and   Capture   of   That 

City. 

As  might  be  supposed,  the  explosion  was  designated  as 
the  signal  for  a  general  simultaneous  co-operation  all  along 
the  lines  from  right  to  left. 

Every  thing  was  finished.  The  vitalizing  spark  had 
quickened  the  hitherto  passive  agent,  and  the  now  harmless 
flashes  went  hurrying  to  the  center.  The  troops  had  been 
withdrawn.  The  forlorn  hope  stood  out  in  plain  view, 
boldly  awaiting  the  uncertainties  of  the  precarious  office. 
A  chilling  sensation  ran  through  the  frame  as  an  observer 
looked  down  upon  this  devoted  band  about  to  hurl  itself 
into  the  breach — perchance  into  the  jaws  of  death. 

Thousands  of  men  in  arms  flashed  on  every  hill.  Every 
one  was  speechless  Even  men  of  tried  valor — vi-hTans 
insensible  to  the  shouts  of  contending  battalions,  or  nerved 


STORM 


124         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

to  the  shrieks  of  comrades  suffering  under  the  torture  of 
painful  agonies — stood  motionless  as  they  directed  their 
eyes  upon  the  spot  where  soon  the  terror  of  a  buried  agency 
\yould  discover  itself  in  wild  concussions  and  contortions, 
carrying  annihilation  to  all  within  the  scope  of  its  tremen 
dous  power. 

It  was  the  seeming  torpor  which  precedes  the  antago 
nism  of  powerful  bodies.  Five  minutes  had  elapsed.  It 
seemed  like  an  existence.  Five  minutes  more,  and  yet  no 
signs  of  the  expected  exhibition.  ATI  indescribable  sensa 
tion  of  impatience,  blended  with  a  still  active  anticipation, 
ran  through  the  assembled  spectators. 

A  small  pall  of  smoke  now  discovered  itself  ;  every  one 
thought  the  crisis  had  come,  and  almost  saw  the  terrific 
scene  which  the  mind  had  depicted.  But  not  yet.  Every 
eye  now  centered  upon  the  smoke,  momentarily  growing 
greater  and  greater.  Thus  another  five  minutes  wore  away, 
and  curiosity  was  not  satisfied.  Another  few  minutes,  then 
the  terrific  earth-shaking  explosion  occurred.  So  terrible  a 
spectacle  is  seldom  witnessed.  Dust,  dirt,  smoke,  gabions, 
stockades,  timber,  gun-carriages,  logs — in  fact,  every  thing 
connected  with  the  fort — rose  hundreds  of  feet  into  the  air, 
as  if  vomited  forth  from  a  volcano.  Some  who  were  close 
spectators  even  say  that  they  saw  the  bodies  of  the  poor 
wretches  who  a  moment  before  had  lined  the  ramparts  of 
the  work. 

One  entire  face  of  the  fort  was  disembodied  and  scattered 
in  particles  all  over  the  surrounding  surface.  The  right 
and  left  faces  were  also  much  damaged;  but  fortunately 
enough  of  them  remained  to  afford  an  excellent  protection 
on  our  flanks. 

No  sooner  had  the  explosion  taken  place  than  the  two 
detachments  acting  as  the  forlorn  hope  ran  into  the  fort 
and  sap,  as  already  mentioned.  A  brisk  musketry  fire  at 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  125 

once  commenced  between  the  two  parties,  with  about  equal 
effect  upon  either  side.  No  sooner  had  these  detachments 
become  well  engaged  than  the  rest  of  Leggett's  Brigade 
joined  them  and  entered  into  the  struggle. 

The  regiments  relieving  each  other  at  intervals,  the  con 
test  now  grew  severe;  both  sides,  determined  upon  hold 
ing  their  own,  were  doing  their  best.  Yolley  after  volley 
was  fired,  though  with  less  carnage  than  would  be  supposed. 
The  Forty-fifth  Illinois  charged  immediately  up  to  the 
crest  of  the  parapet,  and  here  suffered  its  heaviest,  losing 
many  officers  in  the  assault. 

After  a  severe  contest  of  half  an  hour,  writh  varying  re 
sults,  the  flag  of  the  Forty-fifth  appeared  upon  the  summit 
of  the  work.  The  position  was  gained.  Cheer  after  cheer 
broke  through  the  confusion  and  uproar  of  the  contest,  as 
suring  the  troops  everywhere  along  the  line  that  the  Forty- 
fifth  was  still  itself.  The  colonel  was  now  left  alone  in 
command  of  the  regiment,  arid  he  was  himself  badly 
bruised  by  a  fly  ing 'splinter.  The  regiment  had  also  suf 
fered  severely  in  the  line,  and  the  troops  were  worn  out  by 
excessive  heat  and  hard  fighting. 

During  the  hottest  of  the  action  General  Leggett  was 
in  the  fort  in  the  midst  of  his  troops,  sharing  their  dan 
gers  and  partaking  of  their  glory.  While  here  a  shell 
from  one  of  the  enemy's  guns  exploded  in  a  timber  lying 
on  the  parapet,  distributing  splinters  in  all  directions,  one 
of  which  struck  the  general  on  the  breast,  knocking  him 
over.  Though  somewhat  bruised  and  stunned,  he  soon 
recovered  himself,  and  taking  a  chair,  sat  in  one  of  the 
trenches  near  the  fort,  where  he  could  be  seen  by  his  men. 
The  explosion  of  the  mine  was  the  signal  for  the  open 
ing  of  the  artillery  of  the  entire  line.  The  left  division 
of  General  McPherson's  Seventeenth,  or  center,  Corps 
opened  first,  and  discharges  were  repeated  along  the  left 


J  -6         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

through  General  Ord?s  Thirteenth  Corps,  and  Herrori's 
extreme  "  left  division,"  until  the  sound  struck  the  ear 
like  the  mutterings  of  distant  thunder. 

General  Sherman,  on  the  right,  also  opened  his  artillery 
about  the  same  time  and  occupied  the  enemy's  attention 
along  his  front.  Every  shell  struck  the  parapet,  and, 
bounding  over,  exploded  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy's 
forces  beyond.  The  scene  at  this  time  was  one  of  the 
utmost  sublimity. 

The  roar  of  artillery,  rattle  of  small  arms,  the  cheers  of 
the  men,  flashes  of  light,  wreaths  of  pale  blue  smoke  over 
different  parts  of  the  field,  the  bursting  of  shells,  the  fierce 
whistle  of  solid  shot,  the  deep  boom  of  the  mortars,  the 
broadsides  of  the  ships  of  war,  and,  added  to  all  this,  the 
vigorous  replies  of  the  enemy,  set  up  a  din  which  beggars 
all  description.  The  peculiar  configuration  of  the  field 
afforded  an  opportunity  to  witness  almost  every  battery 
and  every  rifle-pit  within  seeing  distance,  and  it  is  due  to 
all  the  troops  to  say  that  every  one  did* his  duty. 

After  the  possession  of  the  fort  was  no  longer  in  doubt, 
the  pioneer  corps  mounted  the  work  with  their  shovels 
and  set  to  throwing  up  earth  vigorously  in  order  to  secure 
space  for  artillery.  A  most  fortunate  peculiarity  in  the 
explosion  was  the  manner  in  which  the  earth  was  thrown 
out.  The  appearance  of  the  place  was  that  of  a  funnel, 
with  heavy  sides  running  up  to  the  very  crest  of  tlio  para 
pet,  affording  admirable  protection  not  only  for  our  troops 
and  pioneers,  but  turned  out  a  ready  made  fortification  in 
the  rough,  which,  with  a  slight  application  of  the  shovel 
and  pick,  was  ready  to  receive  the  guns  to  be  used  at  this 
point. 

From  a  lookout  on  the  summit  of  an  eminence  near  the 
rebel  works  the  movements  of  the  enemy  could  be  plainly 
watched.  An  individual  in  the  tower,  just  prior  to  the 


73*  THE  HETSELLION.  127 

explosion  of  the  mine,  saw  two  rebel  regiments  marching 
out  to  tiie  fort.  Of  a  sudden — perhaps  upon  seeing  the 
smoke  of  the  fuse — the  troops  turned  about  and  ran  to 
ward  the  town  in  perfect  panic.  They  were  not  seen 
again  during  the  fight;  but  other  regiments  were  brought 
up  to  supply  their  place. 


9 

Vicksburg's  Surrender — An  Interesting   Interview  Between   Gen 
eral   Grant   and   the    Confederate   General, 
Pemberton. 

The  following  account  of  the  interview  between  Generals 
Grant  and  Pemberton,  before  Yicksburg,  is  given  by  one 
who  had  followed  the  army  during  the  whole  campaign: 

"  At  three  o'clock  precisely,  one  gun,  the  prearranged 
signal,  was  fired,  and  immediately  replied  to  by  the  enemy. 
General  Pemberton  then  made  his  appearance  on  the  works 
in  McPherson's  front,  under  a  white  nag,  considerably  on 
the  left  of  what  is  known  as  Fort  Hill.  General  Grant 
rode  through  our  trenches  until  he  came  to  an  outlet,  lead 
ing  to  a  small  green  space,  which  had  not  been  trod  by 
either  army.  Here  he  dismounted,  and  advanced  to  meet 
General  Pemberton,  with  whom  he  shook  hands,  and 
greeted  familiarly. 

"  It  was  beneath  the  outspreading  branches  of  a  gigantic 
oak  that  the  conference  of  the  generals  took  place.  Here 
presented  the  only  space  which  had  not  been  used  for  some 
purpose  or  other  by  the  contending  armies.  The  ground 
was  covered  with  a  fresh,  luxuriant  verdure;  here  and  there 
a  shrub  or  clump  of  bushes  could  be  seen  standing  out 
from  the  green  growth  on  the  surface,  while  several  oaks 
filled  up  the  scene,  and  gave  it  character.  Some  of  the 
trees  in  their  tops  exhibited  the  effects  of  flying  projectiles, 
by  the  loss  of  limbs  or  torn  foliage,  arid  in  their  trunks  the 


128        STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

indentations  of  smaller  missiles  plainly  marked  the  occur 
rences  to  which  they  had  been  silent  witnesses. 

"  "Hie  party  made  up  to  take  part  in  the  conference  was 
composed  as  follows: 

"United  States  officers:  Major-General  U.  S.  Grant, 
Major-General  James  B.  McPherson,  Brigadier-General  A. 
J.  Smith.  Confederate  officers:  Lieutenant-General  John 
C.  Pe\nberton,  Major-General  Bowen,  Colonel  Montgom 
ery,  A.  A.  G.  to  General  Pemberton. 

u  "When  Generals  Grant  and  Pemberton  met  they  shook 
hands,  Colonel  Montgomery  introducing  the  party.  A  short 
silence  ensued,  at  the  expiration  of  which  General  Pember 
ton  remarked: 

"  '  General  Grant,  I  meet  you  in  order  to  arrange  terms 
for  the  capitulation  of  the  City  of  Yicksburg  and  its  gar 
rison.  "What  terms  do  you  demand  'C 

"  '  Unconditional  surrender,'  replied  General  Grant. 

"  'Unconditional  surrender?'  said  Pemberton.  i Never, 
so  long  as  I  have  a  man  left  me!  I  will  fight  rather.' 

c- '  Then,  sir,  you  can  continue  the  defense,'  coolly  said 
General  Grant.  '  My  army  has  never  been  in  a  better  con 
dition  for  the  prosecution  of  the  siege.' 

"  During  the  passing  of  these  few  preliminaries,  General 
Pemberton  was  greatly  agitated,  quaking  from  head  to 
foot,  while  General  Grant  experienced  all  his  natural  self- 
possession,  and  evinced  not  the  least  sign  of  embarrass 
ment.  » 

"  After  a  short  conversation  standing,  by  a  kind  of  mutual 
tendency  the  two  generals  wandered  off  from  the  rest  of 
the  party  and  seated  themselves  on  the  grass,  in  a  cluster 
of  bushes,  where  alone  they  talked  over  the  important 
events  then  pending.  General  Grant  could  be  seen,  even 
at  that  distance,  talking  coolly,  occasionally  giving  a  few 
puffs  at  his  favorite  companion — his  black  cigar.  General 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  129 

McPherson,  General  A.  J.  Smith,  General  Bowen,  and 
Colonel  Montgomery,  imitating  the  example  of  the  com 
manding  generals,  seated  themselves  at  some  distance  off> 
while  the  respective  staffs  of  the  generals  formed  another 
and  larger  group  in  the  rear. 

u  After  a  lengthy  conversation  the  generals  separated. 
General  Pernberton  did  not  come  to  any  conclusion  on  the 
matter,  but  stated  his  intention  to  submit  the  matter  to  a 
council  of  general  officers  of  his  command;  and,  in  the 
event  of  their  assent,  the  surrender  of  the  city  should  be 
made  in  the  morning. 

"  Until  morning  was  given  him  to  consider,  to  determine 
upon  the  matter  and  send  in  his  final  reply.  The  generals 
now  rode  to  their  respective  quarters. 

"  The  final  reply  of  General  Pemberton,  as  the  world 
knows,  came  July  4=  (1863),  and  Vicksburg  was  stir- 
rendered." 


President  Lincoln's  Congratulations  to  General  Grant,  and  Lincoln's 

Little  Joke. 

When  the  news  of  this  glorious  victory  at  Yicksburg 
officially  reached  the  President,  he  wrote  an  autograph 
letter  to  General  Grant,  as  follows: 

"Mv  DEAR  GENERAL: — I  do  not  remember  that  you 
and  I  ever  met  personally.  I  write  this  now  as  a  grateful 
acknowledgment  for  the  almost  inestimable  service  you 
have  done  the  countfy.  I  wish  to  say  a  word  furtner. 
When  you  first  reached  the  vicinity  of  Yicksburg,  I  thought 
you  should  do  what  you  finally  did — march  the  troops 
across  the  neck,  run  the  batteries  with  the  transports,  and 
thus  go  below;  and  I  never  had  any  faith,  except  a  general 
hope  that  you  knew  better  than  T,  that  the  Yazoo  Pass  ex- 
9 


130         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

pedition  and  the  like  could  succeed.  When  yon  got  below 
and  took  Port  Gibson,  Grand  Gulf,  and  vicinity,  I  thought 
you  should  go  down  the  river  and  join  General  Banks ;  and 
when  you  turned  northward  east  of  the  Big  Black,  I  feared 
it  was  a  mistake.  I  now  wish  to  make  a  personal  acknowl 
edgment  that  you  were  right  and  I  was  wrong" 

Several  gentlemen  were  near  the  President  at  the  time 
he  received  the  news  of  Grant's  success,  some  of  whom 
had  been  complaining  of  the  rumors  .of  his  habit  of  using 
intoxicating  drinks  to  excess. 

"So  I  understand  Grant  drinks  whisky  to  excess?"  inter 
rogatively  remarked  the  President. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply. 

"  What  whisky  does  he  drink?"  inquired  Mr.  Lincoln. 

"What  whisky?"  doubtfully  queried  his  hearers. 

"Yes.     Is  it  Bourbon  or  Monongahela?" 

"Why  do  you  ask,  Mr.  President?" 

"Because,  if  it  makes  him  win  victories  like  this  at 
Yicksburg,  I  will  send  a  demijohn  of  the  same  kind  to 
every  general  in  the  army." 

His  visitors  saw  the  point,  although  at  their  own  cost. 


General    Grant's   Private   Letter   to    Sherman    on  the  Lieutenant- 
Generalship. 

"DEAR  SHERMAN: — The  Bill  reviving  the  grade  of  lieut 
enant-general  in  the  army  has  become  a  law,  and  my  name 
has  been  sent  to  the  Senate  for  the«place.  I  TIOW  receive 
orders  uto  report  to  Washington  immediately,  in  person, 
which  indicates  a  confirmation,  or  a  likelihood  of  confirm 
ation.  I  start  in  the  morning  to  comply  with  the  order. 

"Whilst  I  have  been  eminently  successful  in  this  war, 
in  at  least  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  public,  no  one 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  131 

feels  more  than  I,  how  much  of  this  success  is  due  to  the 
energy,  skill,  and  the  harmonious  putting  forth  of  that  en 
ergy  and  skill,  of  those  whom  it  has  been  my  good  fortune 
to  have  occupying  subordinate  positions  under  me. 

"  There  are  many  officers  to  whom  these  remarks  are  ap 
plicable  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  proportionate  to  their 
ability  as  soldiers;  but  what  I  want  is  to  express  my 
thanks  to  you  and  McPherson,  as  the  men  to  whom,  above 
all  others,  I  feel  indebted  for  vvhatever  I  have  had  of 
success. 

"  How  far  your  advice  and  assistance  have  been  of  help 
to  me,  you.  know.  How  far  your  execution  of  whatever 
has  been  given  to  you  to  do,  entitles  you  to  the  reward  I 
am  receiving,  you  can  not  know  as  well  as  I. 

"I  feel  all  the  gratitude  this  letter  would  express,  giving 
it  the  most  flattering  construction. 

"  The  word  you  I  use  in  the  plural,  intending  it  for 
McPherson,  also.  I  should  write  to  him,  and  will  some 
day,  but  starting  in  the  morning,  I  do  not  know  that  I 
will  find  time  just  now." 


General  Grant  and  President  Lincoln  in  Washington. 

On  the  8th  of  March  General  Grant  arrived  at  Washing 
ton,  where  he  had  never  spent  more  than  one  day  before. 
President  Lincoln  had  never  seen  his  face,  and  the  Secretary 
of  "War  had  met  him,  for  the  first  time,  at  Louisville,  in  the 
October  preceding. 

At  one  o'clock,  on  the  9th  of  March,  Grant  was  formally 
received  by  the  President,  in  the  cabinet  chamber.  There 
were  present  all  the  members  of  his  cabinet,  Major-General 
Halleck,  general-in-chief,  two  members  of  General  Grant's 
staff,  the  President's  secretary,  a  single  member  of  Con- 


132         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

gress,  and  Grant's  eldest  son,  who  had  been  with  him  at 
Jackson,  and  Vicksburg,  and  at  Champion's  Hill. 

After  Grant  had  been  presented  to  the  members  of  the 
cabinet,  Mr.  Lincoln  read  the  following  words:  "  General 
Grant,  the  nation's  appreciation  of  what  you  have  done, 
and  its  reliance  upon  you  for  what  remains  to  be  done  in 
the  existing  great  struggle,  are  now  presented,  with  this 
commission  constituting  you  lieutenant-general  in  the 
Army  of  the  United  States.  "With  this  high  honor,  de 
volves  upon  you,  also,  a  corresponding  responsibility.  As 
the  country  herein  trusts  you,  so,  under  God,  it  will  sus 
tain  you.  I  scarcely  need  to  add,  that,  with  what  I  here 
speak  for  the  nation,  goes  my  own  hearty  personal  concur 
rence." 

Grant  read,  from  a  paper,  this  reply:  "  Mr.  President, 
I  accept  the  commission,  with  gratitude,  for  the  high  honor 
conferred.  With  the  aid  of  the  noble  armies  that  have 
fought  in  so  many  fields,  for  our  common  country,  it  will 
be  my  earnest  endeavor  not  to  disappoint  your  expecta 
tions.  I  feel  the  full  weight  of  the  responsibilities  now 
devolving  on  me;  and  I  know  that  if  they  are  met,  it  will 
be  due  to  those  armies,  and  above  all,  to  the  favor  of  that 
Providence  which  leads  both  nations  and  men." 


General  Lee's  Surrender  to  General  Grant — The  Decisive  Letters 

Which  Ended  the  Rebellion— Grant's  Own  Account 

of  His  Meeting  Lee. 

u  Feeling,"  says  General  Grant,  "  that  Lee's  chance  of 
escape  was  utterly  hopeless,  I  addressed  him  the  following 
communication  from  Farmville:" 

APRIL  7, 1865. 

GENERAL:— The  result  of  the  last  week  must  convince  you  of  the 
hopelessness  of  further  resistance,  on  the  part  of  the  Army  of  Northern 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  133 

Virginia,  in  this  struggle.  I  feel  that  it  is  so,  and  regard  it  as  my  duty 
to  shift  from  myself  the  responsibility  of  any  further  effusion  of  blood 
by  asking  of  you  the  surrender  of  that  portion  of  the  Confederate  States 
army  known  as  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 

9 

Early  on  Saturday  morning,  before  leaving  Farmville, 
Grant  received  the  following  reply: 

APRIL  7,  1865. 

GENERAL  : — I  have  received  your  note  of  this  date.  Though  not  enter 
taining  the  opinion  you  express  on  the  hopelessness  of  further  resistance 
on  the  part  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  I  reciprocate  your  desire 
to  avoid  useless  effusion  of  blood,  and,  therefore,  before  considering  vour 
proposition,  ask  the  terms  you  will  offer  on  condition  of  its  surrender. 

R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

In  answer  to  this  communfcation,  Grant  wrote  General 
Lee  as  follows: 

APRIL  8,  1865. 

GENERAL:— Your  note  of  last  evening,  in  reply  to  mine  of  fame  date, 
asking  the  condition  on  which  I  will  accept  the  surrender  of  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia,  is  just  received.  In  reply,  I  would  say,  that  peace 
being  my  great  desire,  there  is  but  one  condition  I  would  insist  upon; 
namely,  that  the  men  and  officers  surrendered  shall  be  disqualified  for 
taking  up  arms  again  against  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  until 
properly  exchanged.  I  will  meet  you,  or  will  designate  officers  to  meet 
any  officers  you  may  name  for  the  same  purpose,  at  any  point  agreeable 
to  you,  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  definitely  the  terms  upon  which  the 
surrender  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  will  be  received. 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 

After  the  reception  of  this  letter,  General  Lee's  prospects 
had  improved,  when  he  indicted  the  following  epistle: 

APRIL  8,  1865. 

GENERAL:— I  received  at  a  late  hour  your  note  of  to-day.  In  mine  of 
yesterday  I  did  not  intend  to  propose  the  surrender  of  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia,  but  to  ask  the  terms  of  your  proposition.  To  be 
frank,  I  do  not  think  the  emergency  has  arisen  to  call  for  the  surrender 
of  this  army;  but.  as  the  restoration  of  peace  should  be  the  sole  object 


lo-i          tiTulilES  AXD  SKETCHES  OF  GL\\.  Git  ANT. 

of  all,  I  desired  to  know  whether  your  proposals  would  lead  to  that  end. 
I  can  not,  therefore,  meet  you  with  a  view  to  surrender  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia;  but,  as  far  as  your  proposal  m:iy  affect  the  Confed 
erate  States  forces  under  my  command,  and  tend  t>ihe  restoration  of 
peace,  I  should  be  pleased  to  meet  you  at  ten  A.  M.,  to-morrow,  on  tho 
old  stage-road  to  Richmond,  between  the  picket Jines  of  ihc  two  :  nnies 

R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

To  this  General  Grant  replied: 

APRIL  9,  186o. 

GENERAL  :— Your  note  of  yesterday  is  received.  I  have  no  authority 
to  treat  on  the  subject  of  peace.  The  meeting  proposed  for  ten  A.  M., 
to-day,  could  lead  to  no  good.  I  will  state,  however,  General,  that  I  am 
equally  anxious  for  peace  with  yourself;  and  the  whole  North  entertains 
the  same  feeling.  The  terms  upon  which  peace  can  be  had  are  well  un 
derstood.  By  the  South  laying  down  their  arms,  they  will  hasten  that 
most  desirable  event,  save  thousands  of  human  lives,  and  hundreds  of 
millions  of  property  not  yet  destroyed.  Seriously  hoping  that  all  our 
difficulties  may  be  settled  without  the  loss  of  another  life,  I  subscribe 
myself,  etc. 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 

After  transmitting  this  letter,  General  Grant  immedi 
ately  started  to  join  Sheridan's  column  south  of  Appomat- 
tox  Court  house;  for  he  had  received  a  dispatch  from  that 
officer  inciting  him  to  press  on  with  all  speed,  that  there  was 
now  no  means  of  escape,  for  the  enemy  had  finally  reached 
the  "  last  ditch."  While  spurring  on  to  assume  direction 
of  affairs  in  front  of  Lee,  Grant  received  this  letter  from 
the  Confederate  commander,  which  had  been  delivered  to 
Custer  by  the  flag  of  truce: 

APRIL  9.  186X 

GENERAL:— I  received  your  note  of  this  morning  on  the  picket  line, 
whither  I  had  come  t>  meet  you,  and  ascertain  definitely  what  terms 
were  embraced  in  your  proposal  of  yesterday  with  reference  to  the  sur 
render  of  this  army.  I  now  ask  an  interview,  in  accordance  with  the 
offer  contained  in  your  letter  of  yesterday  for  that  purpose. 

R.  E.  LEE,  Gene.-.  I. 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  135 

Grant  forthwith  penned  on  his  saddle,  upon  a  leaf  torn 
from  his  tablets,  the  following  reply: 

APRIL  9,  1865. 
Gen.  R.  E.  LEE,  Commanding  C.  S.  A. : 

Your  note  of  this  date  is  but  this  moment,  11 :  59  A.  M.,  received.  In 
consequence  of  my  having  passed  from  the  Richmond  and  Lynchburg 
Road  to  the  Farmville  and  Lynchburg  Road,  I  am,  at  this  writing, 
about  four  miles  west  of  Walter's  Church,  and  will  push  forward  to  the 
front  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  you.  Notice  sent  to  me  on  this  road 
where  you  wish  the  interview  to  take  place  will  meet  me. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 

These  notes  produced  the  memorable  interview  between 
the  two  commanders  at  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Wilmer 
McLean,  near  Appomattox  Court-house. 

In  describing  this  meeting  General  Grant  says: 

"  I  felt  some  embarrassment  in  the  prospect  of  meeting 
General  Lee.  I  had  not  seen  him  since  he  was  General 
Scott's  chief-of- staff  in  Mexico;  and,  in  addition  to  the 
respect  I  entertained  for  him,  the  duty  which  I  had  to  per 
form  was  a  disagreeable  one,  and  I  wished  to  get  through 
it  as  soon  as  possible. 

"  When  I  reached  Appomattox  Court-house,  I  had  ridden 
that  morning  thirty-seven  miles.  I  was  in  my  campaign 
clothes,  covered  with  dust  and  mud;  I  had  no  sword;  I 
was  not  even  well  mounted,  for  I  rode  (turning  to  General 
Ingals,  who  was  present)  one  of  Ingals'  horses. 

"  I  found  General  Lee  in  a  fresh  suit  of  Confederate 
gray,  with  all  the  insignia  of  his  rank,  and  at  his  side  the 
splendid  dress-sword  which  had  been  given  to  him  by  the 
State  of  Virginia.  We  shook  hands.  He  was  exceedingly 
courteous  in  his  address,  and  we  seated  ourselves  at  a  deal 
table  in  Mr.  McLean's  front  room. 

"  We  talked  of  two  of  the  conditions  of  surrender,  which 
had  been  left  open  by  our  previous  correspondence,  one  of 


136         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OP  GEN.  GRANT. 

which  related  to  the  ceremonies  which  were  to  be  observed 
on  the  occasion ;  and  when  I  disclaimed  any  desire  to  have 
any  parade,  but  said  I  should  be  contented  with  the  deliv 
ery  of  arms  to  my  officers,  and  with  the  proper  signature 
and  authentication  of  paroles,  he  seemed  to  be  greatly 
pleased. 

"  "When  I  yielded  the  other  point,  that  the  officers  should 
retain  their  side  arms  and  private  baggage  and  horses,  his 
emotions  of  satisfaction  were  plainly  visible.  We  soon  re 
duced  the  terms  to  writing. 

"We  parted  with  the  same  courtesies  with  which  we  had 
met.  It  seemed  to  me  that  General  Lee  evinced  a  feeling 
of  satisfaction  and  relief  when  the  business  was  finished. 
I  immediately  mounted  Ingals'  horse,  returned  to  General 
Sheridan's  headquarters,  and  did  not  again  present  myself 
to  the  Confederate  Commander." 

The  documents  signed  at  Mr.  McLean's  house  were  as 
follows : 

APPOMATTOX  COUKT  HOUSE,  VA.,  April  9,  1865. 
GENERAL  : — In  accordance  with  the  substance  of  my  letter  to  you  of 
the  8th  instant,  I  propose  to  receive  the  surrender  of  the  Army  of  Xorth- 
ern  Virginia  on  the  following  terms,  to  wit:  rolls  of  all  the  officers  and 
men  to  be  made  in  duplicate,  one  copy  to  be  given  to  an  officer  to  be  des 
ignated  by  me,  the  other  to  be  retained  by  such  officer  or  officers  as  you 
may  designate.  The  officers  to  give  their  individual  paroles  not  to  take 
up  arms  against  the  Government  of  the  United  States  until  properly  ex 
changed,  and  each  company  or  regimental  conlftlander  sign  a  like  parole 
for  the  men  of  their  commands.  The  arms,  artillery,  and  public  prop- 
erty  to  be  parked  and  stacked,  and  turned  over  to  the  officers  appointed 
by  me  to  receive  them.  This  will  not  embrace  the  side  arms  of  the  offi 
cers  nor  their  private  horses  or  baggage.  This  done,  each  officer  and 
man  will  be  allowed  to  return  to  his  home,  not  to  be  disturbed  by  the 
United  States  authority  so  long  as  they  observe  their  paroles,  and  the 
laws  in  force  where  they  may  reside. 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieutenant-General. 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  137 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  NORTHERN  VIRGINIA,  April  9,  1865. 
GENERAL: — I  received  your  letter  of  this  date,  containing  the  terms  of 
the  surrender  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  as  proposed  by  you. 
As  they  are  substantially  the  same  as  those  expressed  in  your  letter  of 
the  8th  instant,  they  are  accepted.  I  will  proceed  to  designate  the 
proper  officers  to  carry  the  stipulations  into  effect. 

R  E.  LEE,  General. 

Thus  was  the  act  engrossed  which  disbanded  and  dis 
armed  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  relegated  its  vet 
eran  officers  and  soldiers  to  the  ranks  of  peaceful  citizens, 
and  virtually  closed  the  rebellion. 


Lieutenant-General  Grant's  Farewell  Address  to  the  Soldiers. 

The  Union  armies  under  command  of  Lieutenant-General 
Grant  numbered  1,000,516  soldiers.  Their  commander 
might  well  be  proud  of  the  great  services  which  with  him 
they  had  performed  for  the  country.  The  following  are  the 
great  General's  parting  words: 

"  SOLDIERS  OF  THE  ARMIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  : — By  your  pa 
triotic  devotion  to  your  country  in  the  hour  of  danger  and  alarm, 
your  magnificent  fighting,  bravery  and  endurance,  you  have  main 
tained  the  supremacy  of  the  Union  and  the  Constitution,  overthrown 
all  armed  opposition  to  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  and  the  proclama 
tions  forever  abolishing  slavery — the  cause  and  pretext  of  the  Rebel 
lion—and  opened  the  way  to  the  rightful  authorities  to  restore  order, 
and  inaugurate  peace  on  a  permanent  and  enduring  basis  on  every  foot 
of  American  soil.  Your  marches,  sieges  and  battles,  in  distance,  dura 
tion,  resolution  and  brilliancy  of  results,  dim  the  lustre  of  the  world's 
past  military  achievements,  and  will  be  the  patriot's  precedent  in  the 
defense  of  liberty  and  right  in  all  time  to  come.  In  obedience  to  your 
country's  call,  you  left  your  homes  and  families,  and  volunteered  in 
her  defense.  Victory  has  crowned  your  valor  and  secured  the  purpose 
of  your  patriotic  hearts;  and  with  the  gratitude  of  your  countrymen, 
and  the  highest  honors  a  great  and  free  nation  can  accord,  you  will 


138         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

soon  be  permitted  to  return  to  your  homes  and  families,  conscious  of 
having  discharged  the  highest  duty  of  American  citizens.  To  achieve 
these  glorious  triumphs,  and  to  secure  to  yourselves,  fellow-country, 
men  and  posterity,  the  blessings  of  free  institutions,  tens  of  thousands 
of  your  gallant  comrades  have  fallen,  and  sealed  the  priceless  legacy 
with  their  blood.  The  graves  of  these  a  grateful  nation  bedews  with 
tears,  honors  their  memories,  and  will  ever  cherish  and  support  their 
stricken  families." 


General  Lee's  Generous  Compliment  to  General  Grant. 

"  I  wish,"  said  General  R.  E.  Lee  to  a  Northern  friend, 
on  one  occasion,  "  to  do  simple  justice  to  General  Grant 
when  I  say  that  his  treatment  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia  is  without  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  the  civilized 
world.  When  my  poor  soldiers,  with  famished  faces,  had 
neither  food  nor  raiment,  General  Grant  immediately  is 
sued  the  humane  order  that  40,000  rations  should  be  fur 
nished  to  the  impoverished  troops.  And  that  is  not  all. 
I  was  giving  directions  to  one  of  my  staff  officers,  when 
making  out  the  list  of  things  to  be  surrendered,  to  include 
the  horses.  At  that  moment,  General  Grant,  who  seemed 
to  be  paying  no  attention  to  what  was  transpiring,  quickly 
said :  '  No,  no,  .General  Lee,  not  a  horse — not  one — keep 
them  all!  Your  people  will  need  them  for  the  Spring 
crops !  "  "It  was  a  scene  never  to  be  forgotten,"  adds  the 
gentleman  to  whom  the  remarks  were  addressed,  "  to  watch 
Lee's  manner,  when,  with  a  spirit  of  chivalry  equal  to  his 
skill  and  gallantry,  he  told,  with  moistened  eyes,  this  and 
many  other  instances  of  the  magnanimity  so  nobly  dis 
played  by  his  illustrious  rival."  Being  subsequently  asked 
who,  in  his  opinion,  was  the  greatest  of  the  Federal  com 
manders,  General  Lee  paid  the  following  handsome  tribute 
to  General  Grant:  "  Both  as  a  gentleman  and  an  organizer 


IN  THE  REBELLION.  13° 

of  victorious  war,  General  Grant  has  excelled  all  your 
most  noted  soldiers.  He  has  exhibited  more  true  courage, 
more  real  greatness  of  mind,  more  consummate  prudence 
from  the  outset,  and  more  heroic  bravery  than  any  one  on 
your  side." 


AS   PRESIDENT. 


An  Inaugural  Extract. 

In  his  address  on  the  occasion  of  his  inauguration  for  a 
second  term  as  President,  General  Grant  said: 

It  is  my  firm  conviction  that  the  civilized  world  is  tending  toward 
Republicanism,  or  government  by  the  people  through  their  chosen  rep 
resentatives,  and  that  our  own  Republic  is  destined  to  be  the  guMing 


CAPITOL  AT  WASHINGTON. 

star.  Under  our  Republic  we  support  an  army  less  than  that  of  any 
European  power  of  any  standing,  and  a  navy  less  than  half  that  of  at 
least  five  of  them.  *  *  *  Now  that  the  telegraph  is  made  available 
for  communicating  thought,  together  with  rapid  transit  by  steam,  all 
parts  of  the  cantinent  are  made  contiguous  for  all  purposes  of  the  gov 
ernment,  and  communication  between  the  extreme  limits  of  the  country 
made  easier  than  it  was  throughout  the  old  Thirteen  States  at  the  begin- 
ning  of  our  national  existence. 

140 


AS  PRESIDENT.  141 

President  Grant— Closing  Scenes  in  the  White  House— His  Opin 
ion  of  His  Own  Administration. 

"The  last  time,"  says  an  intimate  friend  of  the  General, 
"  that  I  saw  the  greatest  man  it  has  ever  been  my  privilege 
to  know  was  a  week  or  so  after  President  Hayes  was  in 
augurated.  Grant  left  the  White  House  on  the  5th  of 
March,  1877.  Hayes  was  inaugurated  at  12  o'clock  that 
day.  About  2  o'clock,  the  outgoing  and  the  incoming 
Presidents,  attended  by  the  outgoing  Cabinet  and  a  com 
mittee  of  Senators  and  Representatives,  returned  to  the 
White  House,  when  the  man  who  had  taken  twice  (on  Sun 
day,  the  4th,  and  011  Monday,  the  5th,)  the  oath  to  support 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  to  well  and  truly 
perform  the  offices  of  Chief  Magistrate,  as  God  gave  him 
light,  took  the  reins  of  government  from  another  man  who 
had  held  them  eight  years,  and  was  glad  to  lay  them  down. 

"Mrs.  Grant  had  provided  an  excellent  lunch,  and  sat 
for  the  last  time  at  the  head  of  the  Executive  dining-room. 
After  the  lunch  was  over,  she  and  '  that  quiet  man,'  her 
husband,  rode  over  to  the  residence  of  Hamilton  Fish, 
Secretary  of  State,  whose  guests  they  were  to  be. 

"Secretary  Fish  lived  across  the  way  from  Fernando 
Wood  and  Elaine,  at  the  corner  of  I  and  Fifteenth  Streets, 
with  his  house  fronting  McPherson  Square,  one  of  those 
pleasant  little  irregular  parks  that  make  Washington  so 
beautiful  and  purify  the  air  we  breathe.  In  it  stands  the 
statue  of  General  McPherson,  erected  by  the  society  of  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  with  benches  around  it,  upon 
which  the  tired  tramp  may  rest. 

"  Strolling  through  this  square  one  bright,  warm  mornfng 
in  March,  I  found  General  Grant  sitting  upon  one  of  the 
benches  alone,  with  the  historic  cigar  in  his  mouth  and  a 
newspaper  upon  his  lap.  He  stopped  me,  and  asked  me 
to  sit  awhile  and  enjoy  the  sunshine  with  him.  A  cigar 


142          STORIES  AND  SKETO11ES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

was  offered  and  accepted,  when  the  General  chatted  famil 
iarly  for  half  an  hour. 

"  He  talked  of  the  events  of  his  administration.  He 
said  some  things  not  to  be  repeated,  but  the  general  drift 
of  his  opinion  was  that  the  country  would  be  satisfied  with 
it  when  it  could  be  looked  back  upon,  and  the  mischief- 
makers  and  discontented  were  pestering  some  one  else. 
He  thought  that  history  would  be  charitable  when  it  crit 
icised  his  faults,  and  he  knew  that  worse  things  than  he 
had  been  charged  with  had  been  forgotten  in  the  lives  of 
his  predecessors.  That  which  he  regretted  most  was  the 
Bristow  conspiracy,  and  he  predicted  that  before  many 
years  Bristow  would  be  a  forgotten  man.  He  spoke  of 
the  intimacy,  which  was  then  at  its  height,  between  Presi 
dent  Hayes  and  the  '  reformers  '  on  the  one  hand,  and  the 
ex-Confederate  leaders  on  the  other,  and  prophesied  that 
his  successor,  for  whom  he  had  great  respect,  wrould  be  led 
into  serious  trouble  if  he  followed  their  advice.  He  had 
tried  them  all,  he  said,  and  they  had  given  him  stones  for 
bread.  They  were  selfish,  impolitic,  and  unreasonable,  and 
would  be  satisfied  only  so  long  as  they  could  control.  He 
had  found  that  the  safest  men  to  advise  with  were  Hamlin, 
Chandler,  Morton,  and  others  of  their  sort. 

"While  we  were  talking,  a  carriage  drove  up  to  the  Fish 
mansion,  and  General  Grant  bade  me  good-bv." 


Off  for  Europe— General  Grant's  Good-Bye  to  Old  Friends. 

previous  to  his  departure  for  Europe  General  Grant  spent 
several  days  in  Philadelphia.  The  reception  extended  by 
the  Quaker  City  was  commensurate  with  its  reputation  for 
always  doing  the  right  thing  in  the  best  possible  manner. 
General  Grant  was  highly  delighted,  and  at' a  farewell 
meeting  said: 


AS  PRESIDENT.  143 

I  had  expected  to  make  a  speech  to-day,  and  therefore  can  do  nothing 
more  than  thank  you,  as  I  have  had  occasion  to  do  so  often  within  the 
past  week.  I  have  been  only  eight  days  in  Philadelphia,  and  have  been 
received  with  such  unexpected  kindness  that  it  finds  me  with  no  words 
to  thank  you.  What  with  driving  in  the  park,  and  dinners  afterward, 
and  keeping  it  up  until  after  midnight,  and  now  to  find  myself  still  re- 
ceiving  your  kind  hospitality,  I  am  afraid  you  have  not  left  me  stomach 
enough  to  cross  the  Atlantic. 

This  was  followed  by  short  and  highly  complimentary 
speeches  from  General  Sherman,  ex-Secretary  Fish,  ex- 
Secretary  Chandler,  ex-Secretary  Robeson,  ex-Senator  Cam 
eron,  General  Bailey,  Governor  Hartranft,  and  others;  and 
so  affected  General  Grant  that  he  replied: 

MY  DEAR  FRIENDS  : — I  was  not  aware  that  we  would  have  so  much 
speech-making  here,  or  that  it  would  be  necessary  for  me  to  say  any 
more  to  you,  but  I  feel  that  the  compliments  you  have  so  showered  upon 
me  were  not  altogether  deserved — that  they  should  n<|t  all  be  paid  to  me, 
either  as  a  soldier  or  as  a  civil  officer.  As  a  general  your  praises  do  not 
all  belong  to  me — as  the  executive  of  the  nation  they  are  not  due  to  me. 
There  is  no  man  who  can  fill  both  or  either  of  these  positions  without 
the  help  of  good  men.  I  selected  my  lieutenants  when  I  was  in  both 
positions,  and  they  were  men,  I  believe,  who  could  have  filled  my  place 
often  better  than  I  did.  I  never  flattered  myself  that  I  was  entitled  to 
the  place  you  gave  me.  My  lieutenants  could  have  acted  perhaps  better 
than  I,  had  the  opportunity  presented  itself.  Sherman  could  have  taken 
my  place,  as  a  soldier  or  in  a  civil  office,  and  so  could  Sheridan,  and 
others  I  might  name.  I  am  sure  if  the  country  ever  comes  to  this  need 
again  there  will  be  men  for  the  work.  There  will  be  men  born  for  every 
emergency.  Again  I  thank  you,  and  again  I  bid  you  good-bye ;  and 
once  again  I  say  that,  if  I  had  failed,  Sherman  or  Sheridan,  or  some  of 
my  other  lieutenants,  would  have  succeeded. 

Soon  after  this  the  General  was  transferred  to  the  "  In 
diana,"  and  was  off  for  Europe. 


ABOUND   THE    WORLD. 


On    a    Foreign    Shore —General    Grant's   Arrival    In  Liverpool— 

The  Welcome  Words— His  Address  In 

Manchester. 

The  "  Indiana,"  with  its  celebrities,  arrived  in  Liverpool 
May  28,  making  the  trip  in  eleven  days. 

And  now  begins  a  series  of  magnificent  "  receptions," 
"  banquetings,"  etc.,  which  have  followed  General  Grant 
around  the  world.  From  Liverpool  to  Chicago,  in  great 
cities  and  by  the  wayside,  on  mountain  summits  and  down 
in  the  lowest  "devels  "  of  the  "  Comstock,"  everywhere  the 
great  General  has  been  most  heartily  welcomed. 

It  is,  perhaps,  not  too  much  to  say,  that  no  one  in  all 
history  has  received  such  personal  homage,  so  spontaneous 
and  genuine,  as  Ulysses  S.  Grant.  It  is  true,  in  part,  this 
has  been  representative  and  highly  complimentary  to  our 
land  and  civilization,  and  yet,  somehow,  there  attaches  to 
Grant  himself,  in  his  quiet  self  poise,  gentlemanly  demeanor, 
due  appreciation  and  heartfelt  thankfulness,  that  we  can 
not  divorce  the  grand  world-encircling  chain  of  ovations 
from  the  man  who  has  won  a  world-wide  fame  on  the  field 
of  battle  and  in  the  honest  discharge  of  duties  in  the  high 
est  office  that  a  free  people  can  anywhere  bestow. 

On  his  arrival  at  Liverpool,  General  Grant  was  welcomed 
by  the  Mayor  in  the  following  earnest  and  eloquent  words: 

"  General  Grant,  I  am  proud  that  it  has  fallen  to  my  lot 
as  chief  magistrate  of  Liverpool,  to  welcome  to  the  shores 

144 


BANKS  or  THE  NILE. 


146         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

of  England  so  distinguished  a  citizen  of  the  United  States. 
You  have,  sir,  stamped  your  name  on  the  history  of 
the  world  by  your  brilliant  career  as  a  soldier,  and  still 
more  as  a  statesman,  in  the  interests  of  peace. 

"  In  the  name  of  Liverpool,  whose  interests  are  so  closely 
allied  with  your  great  country,  I  bid  you  hearty  welcome, 
and  I  hope  Mrs.  Grant  and  yourself  will  enjoy  your  visit 
to  old  England." 

General  Grant  left  Liverpool  May  30,  for  Manchester, 
where  he  was  the  guest  of  Mayor  Hey  wood.  At  the  Royal 
Exchange,  in  presence  of  a  large  assemblage  of  merchants, 
the  General,  in  response  to  an  address,  said: 

MR.  MAYOR,  MEMBERS  OP  THE  COUNCIL  OF  MANCHESTER,  LADIES 
AND  GENTLEMEN  : — It  is  scarcely  possible  for  me  to  give  utterance  to 
the  feelings  called  forth  by  the  receptions  which  have  been  accorded  me 
since  my  arrival  in  England.  In  Liverpool,  where  I  spent  a  couple  of 
days,  I  witnessed  continuously  the  same  interest  that  has  been  exhibited 
in  the  streets  and  in  the  public  buildings  of  your  city.  It  would  be 
impossible  for  any  person  to  have  so  much  attention  paid  to  him  with 
out  feeling  it,  and  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  give  expression  to  the 
sentiments  which  have  been  evoked  by  it.  I  had  intended  upon  my 
arrival  in  Liverpool  to  have  hastened  through  to  London,  and  from  that 
city  to  visit  the  various  points  of  interest  in  your  country,  Manchester 
being  one  of  the  most  important  among  them.  I  am,  and  have  been  for 
many  years,  fully  aware  of  the  great  amount  of  manufactures  of  Man 
chester,  many  of  which  find  a  market  in  my  own  country.  I  was  very 
well  aware,  during  the  war,  of  the  sentiments  of  the  great  mass  of  the 
people  of  Manchester  toward  the  country  to  which  I  have  the  honor  to 
belong,  and  also  of  the  sentiments  with  regard  to  the  struggle  in  which 
it  fell  to  my  lotto  take  a  humble  part.  It  was  a  great  trial  for  us.  For 
your  expressions  of  sympathy  at  that  time  there  exists  a  feeling  of 
friendship  toward  Manchester  distinct  and  separate  from  that  which  my 
countrymen  also  feel,  and  I  trust  always  will  feel,  toward  every  part  of 


l.)  THE  WOULD.  1-i 

England.  I  therefore  accept  on  the  part  of  my  country  the  compliments 
which  have  been  paid  to  me  as  its  representative,  and  thank  you  for 
them  heartily. 


General  Grant's  Reception  in  Salford  and  Leicester. 

General  Grant  arrived  in  Salford  May  31,  and  at  a  ban 
quet  spoke  as  follows: 

"  My  reception  since  my  arrival  in  England  has  been  to 
me  very  expressive,  and  one  for  which  I  have  to  return 
thanks  on  behalf  of  my  country. 

"  I  can  not  help  feeling  that  it  is  my  country  that  is 
honored  through  me. 

"  It  is  the  affection  which  the  people  of  this  island  have 
for  their  children  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  which 
they  express  to  me  as  an  humble  representative  of  their 
offspring." 

In  Leicester,  in  response  to  an  address  of  the  mayor, 
magistrates,  and  others,  General  Grant  said: 

"  Allow  'me,  in  behalf  of  my  country  and  myself,  to 
return  you  thanks  for  the  honor,  and  for  your  kind  recep 
tion,  as  well  as  for  the  other  kind  receptions  which  I  have 
had  since  the  time  that  I  first  landed  on  the  soil  of  Great 
Britain. 

"  As  children  of  this  great  commonwealth,  we  feel  that 
you  must  have  some  reason  to  be  proud  of  our  great  ad 
vancement  since  our  separation  from  the  mother  country. 

"  I  can  assure  you  of  our  heartfelt  good  will,  and  express 
to  you  our  thanks  on  behalf  of  the  American  people." 


K3         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES   OF  GES.  GRANT. 

General  Grant's  Speech  in  London  and  Private  Letter  to  a  Friend 
in  America,  Describing  His  Travels. 

General  Grant  arrived  in  London  June  1,  and  after 
spending  a  time  in  visiting  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Sartoris, 
was,  on  the  15th  of  June,  made  an  honorary  citizen  of 
London,  and  presented  with  the  freedom  of  the  city.  This 
was  made  the  occasion  of  a  great  reception,  during  which 
General  Grant,  in  response  to  the  address  of  the  Chamber 
lain,  said: 

It  is  a  matter  of  some  regret  to  me  that  I  have  never  cultivated  that  art 
of  public  speaking  which  might  have  enabled  me  to  express  in  suitable 
terms  my  gratitude  for  the  compliment  which  has  been  paid  to  my 
countrymen  and  myself  on  this  occasion.  Were  I  in  the  habit  of  speak 
ing  in  public,  1  should  claim  the  right  to  express  my  opinion,  and  what 
I  believe  will  be  the  opinion  of  my  countrymen  when  the  proceedings 
of  this  day  shall  have  been  telegraphed  to  them.  For  myself,  I  have 
been  very  much  surprised  at  my  reception  at  all  places  since  the  day  I 
landed  at  Liverpool  up  to  my  appearance  in  this  the  greatest  city  of  the 
world.  It  was  entirely  unexpected,  and  it  is  particularly  gratifying  to 
me.  I  believe  that  this  honor  is  intended  quite  as  much  for  the  country 
which  I  have  had  the  opportunity  of  serving  in  different  capacities,  as 
for  myself,  and  I  am  glad  that  this  is  so,  because  I  want  to  see  the  hap 
piest  relations  existing,  not  only  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain,  but  also  between  the  United  States  and  all  other  nations. 
Although  a  soldier  by  education  and  profession,  I  have  never  felt  any 
sort  of  fondness  for  war,  and  I  have  never  advocated  it  except  as  a 
means  of  peace.  I  hope  that  we  shall  always  settle  our  differences  in 
all  future  negotiations  as  amicably  as  we  did  in  a  recent  instance.  I 
believe  that  settlement  has  had  a  happy  effect  on  both  countries,  and 
that  from  month  to  month,  and  year  to  year,  the  tie  of  common  civiliza 
tion  and  common  blood  is  getting  stronger  between  the  two  countries. 
My  Lord  Mayor,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  again  thank  you  for  the  honor 
you  have  done  me  and  my  country  to-day. 


150         STORIES  AXD  SKETCHES   OF  GEN.  (JltAKT. 

« 
After  this  grand  reception,  on  the  following  day  General 

Grant  wrote  to  his  friend,  George  W.  Childs,  of  Philadel 
phia,  as  follows: 

"My  DEAR  MR.  CHILDS: — After  an  unusually  stormy  passage  for 
any  season  of  the  year,  and  continuous  sea-sickness  generally  among 
the  passengers  after  the  second  day  out,  we  reached  Liverpool  Mon 
day  afternoon,  the  28th  of  May.  Jesse  and  I  proved  to  be  among  the 
few  good  sailors.  Neither  of  us  felt  a  moment's  uneasiness  during 
the  voyage. 

"  I  had  proposed  to  leave  Liverpool  immediately  on  arrival,  and 
proceed  to  London,  where  I  knew  our  Minister  had  made  arrange 
ments  for  a  formal  reception,  and  had  accepted  for  me  a  few  invita 
tions  of  courtesy ;  but  what  was  my  surprise  to  find  nearly  all  the  ship 
ping  in  port  at  Liverpool  decorated  with  flags  of  all  nations,  and  from, 
the  mainmast  of  each  the  flag  of  the  Union  was  most  conspicuous. 

"  The  docks  were  lined  with  as  many  of  the  population  as  could  find 
standing  room,  and  the  streets,  to  the  hotel  where  it  was  understood  my 
party  would  stop,  were  packed.  The  demonstration  was,  to  all  appear 
ances,  as  hearty  and  as  enthusiastic  as  at  Philadelphia  on  our  departure. 

"The  Mayor  was  present,  with  his  state  carriage,  to  convey  us  to  the 
hotel,  and  after  that  to  his  beautiful  country  residence,  some  six  miles 
out,  where  we  were  entertained  at  dinner  with  a  small  party  of  gentle 
men,  and  remained  over  night.  The  following  day  a  large  party  was 
given  at  the  official  residence  of  the  Mayor,  in  the  city,  at  which  there 
were  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  distinguished  citizens  and  offi 
cers  of  the  corporation  present.  Pressing  invitations  were  sent  from 
most  of  the  cities  of  the  kingdom  to  have  me  visit  them.  I  accepted 
for  a  day  at  Manchester,  and  stopped  a  few  moments  at  Leicester, 
and  at  one  other  place.  The  same  hearty  welcome  was  shown  at  each 
place,  as  you  have  no  doubt  seen. 

"  The  press  of  the  country  has  been  exceedingly  kind  and  courteous. 
So  far  I  have  not  been  permitted  to  travel  in  a  regular  train,  much  less 
in  a  common  car.  The  Midland  road,  which  penetrates  a  great  portion 
of  the  island,  including  Wales  and  Scotland,  have*  extended  to  me  the 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  151 

courtesy  of  their  road,  and  a  Pullman  car  lo  take  me  wherever  I  wish 
to  go  during  the  whole  of  my  stay  in  England.  We  arrived  in  London 
on  Monday  evening,  the  30th  of  May,  when  I  found  our  Minister  had 
accepted  engagements  for  me  up  to  the  27th  of  June,  having  but  a  few 
spare  days  in  the  interval. 

"  On  Saturday  last  we  dined  with  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  and  last 
night  the  formal  reception  at  Judge  Pierrepont's  was  held.  It  was  a 
great  success,  most  brilliant  in  the  numbers,  rank,  and  attire  of  the  au 
dience,  and  was  graced  by  the  presence  of  every  American  in  the  city 
who  had  called  on  the  minister  or  left  a  card  for  me.  I  doubt  whether 
London  has  ever  seen  a  private  house  so  elaborately  or  tastefully  deco 
rated  as  was  our  American- minister's  last  night.  I  am  deeply  indebted 
to  him  for  the  pains  he  has  taken  to  make  my  stay  pleasant,  and  the 
attentions  extended  to  our  country.  I  appreciate  the  fact,  and  am  proud 
of  it,  that  the  attentions  I  am  receiving  are  intended  more  for  our  coun 
try  than  for  me  personally.  I  love  to  see  our  country  honored  and  re 
spected  abroad,  and  I  am  proud  to  believe  that  it  is  by  most  all  nations, 
and  by  some  even  loved.  It  has  always  been  my  desire  to  see  all  jeal 
ousy  between  England  and  the  United  States  abated,  and  every  sore 
healed.  Together  they  are  more  powerful  for  the  spread  of  commerce 
and  civilization  than  all  others  combined,  and  can  do  more  to  remove 
causes  of  wars  by  creating  moral  interests  that  would  be  so  much  endan 
gered  by  war. 

"  I  have  written  very  hastily,  and  a  good  deal  at  length,  but  I  trust 
this  will  not  bore  you.  Had  I  written  for  publication,  I  should  have 
taken  more  pains. 

"U.  S.  GRANT." 


152         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 
General  Grant's  Celebrated  Liverpool  Speech. 

In  his  second  visit  to  Liverpool,  June  28,  at  a  banquet, 
General  Grant  made  one  of  his  longest  and  most  happy 
speeches.  It  was  as  follows: 

MR.  MAYOR  AND  GENTLEMEN: — You  have  alluded  to  the  hearty 
reception  given  to  me  on  my  first  landing  on  the  soil  of  Great  Britain, 
and  the  expectations  of  the  Mayor  that  this  reception  would  be  equaled 
throughout  the  island  have  been  more  than  realized.  It  has  been  far 
beyond  anything  I  could  have  expected.  (Cheers.)  I  am  a  soldier,  and 
the  gentlemen  here  beside  me  know  that  a  soldier  must  die.  I  have  been 
a  President,  but  we  know  that  the  term  of  the  presidency  expires,  and 
when  it  has  expired  he  is  no  more  than  a  dead  soldier.  (Laughter  and 
cheers.)  But,  gentlemen,  I  have  met  with  a  reception  that  would  have 
done  honor  to  any  living  person.  (Cheers.)  I  feel,  however,  that  the 
compliment  has  been  paid,  not  to  me,  but  to  my  country.  I  can  not 
help  but  at  this  moment  being  highly  pleased  at  the  good  feeling  and 
good  sentiment  which  now  exist  between  the  two  peoples  who  of  all 
others  should  be  good  friends.  We  are  of  one  kindred,  of  one  blood,  of 
one  language,  and  of  one  civilization,  though  in  some  respects  we  believe 
that  we,  being  younger,  surpass  the  mother  country.  (Laughter.)  You 
have  made  improvements  on  the  soil  and  the  surface  of  the  earth  which 
we  have  not  yet  done,  but  which  we  do  not  believe  will  take  us  as  long 
as  it  took  you.  (Laughter  and  applause.)  I  heard  some  military  re 
marks  which  impressed  me  a  little  at  the  time— I  am  not  quite  sure 
whether  they  were  iu  favor  of  the  volunteers  or  against  tkem.  I  can 
only  say  from  my  own  observation  that  you  have  as  many  troops  at 
Aldershott  as  we  have  in  the  whole  of  our  regular  army,  notwithstanding 
we  have  many  thousands  of  miles  of  frontier  to  guard  and  hostile 
Indians  to  control.  But  if  it  became  necessary  to  raise  a  volunteer  force, 
I  do  not  think  we  could  do  better  than  follow  your  example.  General 
Fairchild  and  myself  are  examples  of  volunteers  who  came  forward 
when  their  assistance  was  necessary,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  if  you 
ever  needed  such  services,  you  would  have  support  from  your  reserve 
forces  and  volunteers  far  more  effective  than  you  can  conceive.  (Cheers.) 


iJ  TiiK  WOULD.  153 

Queen   Victoria   and   General   Grant   at   Dinner — A   Very   Happy 

Affair. 

The  Queen  of  England  paid  a  compliment  to  General 
Grant  and  the  United  States  by  extending  him  and  his 
family  an  invitation  to  visit  Windsor  Castle. 

The  invitation  read  as  follows: 

"  '  The  Lord  Steward  of  Her  Majesty's  household  is  com 
manded  by  the  Queen  to  invite  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grant  to 
dinner  at  Windsor  Castle,  on  Wednesday,  the  27th  inst., 
and  to  remain  until  the  following  day,  the  28th  of  June, 
1877."  Invitations  were  also  extended  to  Mr.  Pierrepont 
and  his  wife,  J. 'R.  Grant  and  General  Badeau.  On  the 
26th  of  June  the  party  left  for  Windsor  by  the  afternoon 
train. 

At  half-past  eight,  the  Queen,  surrounded  by  her  court; 
received  General  Grant  in  the  magnificent  corridor  leading 
to  her  private  apartments  in  the  Quadrangle.  The  Quad 
rangle  is  formed  by  the  state  apartments  on  the  north,  the 
historical  Round  Tower  on  the  west,  and  the  private  apart 
ments  of  the  Queen  and  the  royal  household  on  the  south 
and  tast. 

This  corridor  is  520  feet  long,  and  extends  round  the 
south  and  east  sides  of  the  Quadrangle.  The  ceiling, 
which  is  lofty,  is  divided  into  large  squares,  the  centers  of 
which  bear  a  number  of  ornamental  devices,  typical  of 
ancient,  modern  and  ecclesiastical  history.  The  dinner 
was  served  in  the  Oak  Room.  Among  those  present  were 
Prince  Leopold,  Prince  Christian,  Princess  Beatrice,  Lord 
and  Lady  Derby,  the  Duchess  of ,  Wellington,  General 
Badeau,  and  others. 

The  ladies  were  dressed  in  black  with  white  trimmings, 
owing  to  the  recent  decease  of  the  Queen  of  Holland. 
During  the  dinner  a  dispatch  was  received  from  Governor 
Hartrauft,  of  Pennsylvania,  as  follows: 


154         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

To  GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT,  care  of  H.  M.  THE  QUEEN:— Your  com- 
rades,  in  national  encampment  assembled,  in  Rhode  Island,  send  heartiest 
greetings  to  their  old  commander,  and  desire,  through  England's  Queen, 
to  thank  England  for  Grant's  reception. 

To  this  the  General  responded: 

Grateful  for  telegram.  Conveyed  message  to  the  Queen.  Thank  my 
old  comrades. 

The  dispatch  came  just  as  the  party  were  assembling  for 
dinner,  and  was  given  by  the  General  to  Her  Majesty,  who 
expressed  much  pleasure  at  the  kind  greeting  from  Amer 
ica.  During  the  dinner  the  band  of  the  Grenadier  Guards 
played  in  the  Quadrangle. 

After  dinner  the  Queen  entered  into  conversation  with 
the  party,  and  about  ten  took  her  leave,  followed  by  her 
suite.  The  evening  was  given  to  conversation  and  whist, 
with  members  of  the  royal  household,  and  at  half-past 
eleven  they  retired. 

The  next  morning  the  General  and  party  took  their  leave 
of  Windsor  and  returned  to  London. 


Address  of  Gaueral  Grant  to  the  Workingmen. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  at  the  house  of  General  Badeau, 
General  Grant  received,  a  deputation  of  the  leading  repre 
sentatives  of  the  workingmen  of  London  and  the  provinces, 
representing  the  engineers,  iron-founders,  miners,  and 
other  classes  of  industry.  An  address,  handsomely  en 
grossed  on  vellum,  was  read  by  Mr.  Guile,  of  the  Iron 
Founders'  Society.  General  Grant  replied  as  follows: 

"  In  the  name  of  my  country,  I  thank  you  for  the  address  you  have 
presented  to  me.  I  feel  it  a  great  compliment  paid  my  government,  and 
one  to  me  personally.  Since  my  arrival  on  British  soil  I  have  received 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  155 

great  attentions,  which  were  intended,  I  feel  sure,  in  the  same  way,  for 
my  country.  I  have  had  ovations,  free  hand-shakings,  presentations 
from  different  classes,  from  the  government,  from  the  controlling  author 
ities  of  cities,  and  have  been  received  in  the  cities  hy  the  populace,  but 
there  has  been  no  reception  which  I  am  prouder  of  than  this  to-day.  I 
recognize  the  fact  that  whatever  there  is  of  greatness  in  the  United 
States,  as  indeed  in  any  other  country,  is  due  to  labor.  The  laborer  is 
the  author  of  all  greatness  and  wealth.  Without  labor  there  would  be 
no  government,  or  no  leading  class,  or  nothing  to  preserve.  With  us, 
labor  is  regarded  as  highly  respectable.  When  it  is  not  so  regarded,  it 
is  because  man  dishonors  labor.  We  recognize  that  labor  dishonors  no 
man;  and,  no  matter  what  a  man's  occupation  is,  he  is  eligible  to  fill 
any  post  in  the  gift  of  the  people;  his  occupation  is  not  considered  in 
selecting,  whether  as  a  law-maker  or  as  an  executor  of  the  law.  Now, 
gentlemen,  in  conclusion,  all  I  can  do  is  to  renew  my  thanks  for  the 
address,  and  repeat  what  I  have  said  before,  that  I  have  received 
nothing  from  any  class  since  my  arrival  which  has  given  me  more 
pleasure." 

After  the  speech  there  was  an  informal  exchange  of  cour 
tesies,  and  the  deputation  then  withdrew. 


Ge  /oral  Grant  in  Paris. 

The  month  of  October  finds  General  Grant  in  Paris, 
where  he  greatly  enjoyed  the  magrii licence  of  that  famous 
city.  Notre  Dame  was  an  object  of  special  interest,  which 
after  St.  Peter's  at  Rome  is  the  grandest  church  edifice  in 
the  world. 

Sight-seeing  was,  however,  interrupted  from  time  to 
time  by  the  numerous  attentions  and  civilities  showered 
on  General  Grant.  On  the  29th  of  October,  General 
Noyes,  the  American  Minister,  gave  the  Ex-President  a 
reception  at  his  house  on  the  Avenue  Josephine.  This  re- 


156         STOKIEti  AND  SKtiTUtitiH  uF  GEL\.  GRANT. 


ception  was  of  the  most  brilliant  character,  and  was  attended 
by  all  the  leading  Americans  in  Paris.  None  of  the  Re 
publican  leaders  were,  however,  present.  Subsequently, 
Mr.  Ilealey,  the  artist,  arranged  a  meeting,  at  which  General 
Grant  met  M.  Gambetta.  From  this  and  other  meetings, 
a  high  feeling  of  esteem  arose  for  the  French  Republican 
leader,  who  impressed  the  General  as  one  of  the  foremost 
minds  in  Europe.  It  was  on  the  6th  of  '  November  that 
the  members  of  the  American  colony,  numbering  some 
three  hundred,  gave  a  public  dinner  to  General  Grant  at 
the  Grand  Hotel.  "With  but  few  exceptions,  every  Amer 
ican  in  Paris  was  present.  General  Noyes  presided,  and 
among  the  guests  were  MM.  Rochambeau  and  Lafayette, 
the  latter  descended  from  the  Revolutionary  hero  of  that 
name.  The  veteran  journalist,  Emile  Girardin,  was  there, 
whom  Horace  Greeley  called  the  greatest  journalist  in  the 
world.  Edmond  About  and  Laboulaye  were  present.  This 
dinner  proceeded  without  special  incident,  the  General  be 
ing  received  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm,  and  making  a 
brief  speech.  These  two  dinners,  with  one  at  the  Elysees, 
were  the  special  events  of  the  General's  visit.  General 
Torbert  entertained  the  Ex-President  at  his  apartment. 
On  the  20th  of  November,  Madame  Mackey,  of  California, 
gave  a  reception  at  her  house  near  the  Arch  of  Triumph, 
which,  from  its  splendor,  recalled  scenes  in  the  "Arabian 
Nights." 


Ascending  Mt.  Vesuvius. 

While  visiting  the  beautiful  city  of  Naples,  General 
Grant,  John  Russell  Young,  and  others,  made  the  ascent 
of  Mt.  Vesuvius.  Mr.  Young  has  given  a  graphic  descrip 
tion  of  the  extensive  "climb,"  as  follows: 

"  There,  far  above,  was  Vesuvius,  and  we  were  impatient 


A; 


158         STGULEti  AND  tiKtii  C'//AV>  OF  uEN.  UMANT. 


for  the  ascent.  It  was  too  late  when  we  arrived  in  Naples, 
but  the  General,  with  military  promptness,  gave  orders  for 
the  march  next  morning.  We  stood  on  the  deck  and 
studied  the  stern  old  mountain,  and  picked  out  the  various 
objects  with  a  telescope,  and  did  an  immense  amount  of 
reading  on  the  subject.  The  volcano  was  in  a  lazy  mood, 
and  not  alive  to  the  honor  of  a  visit  ffom  the  Ex-President 
of  the  United  States,  for  all  he  deigned  to  give  us  was  a 
lazy  puff  of  smoke,  not  a  spark,  or  a  flame,  or  a  cinder.  I 
suppose  the  old  monster  is  an  aristocrat,  and  a  conservative, 
and  said:  'What  do  I  care  for  presidents,  or  your  new  re 
publics!  I  have  scattered  my  ashes  over  a  Roman  republic. 
I  have  lighted  Caesar's  triumphs,  and  thrown  my  clouds 
over  the  path  of  Brutus  fresh  from  Caesar's  corpse.  Why 
should  I  set  my  forces  in  motion  to  please  a  party  of  Yan 
kee  sight-seers,  even  if  one  of  them  should  be  a  famous 
general  and  ex-ruler  of  a  republic?  I  have  looked  upon 
Hannibal  and  Caesar,  Charlemagne  and  Bonaparte.  I  have 
seen  the  rise  and  fall  of  empires.  I  have  admonished  gen 
erations  who  have  worshiped  Jupiter,  as  I  have  admonished 
generations  who  have  worshiped  the  Cross.  I  am  the  home 
of  the  gods  ;  and  if  you  would  see  my  power,  look  at  my  base 
and  ask  of  the  ashes  that  cumber  Ilerculaneum  and  Pom 
peii.'  So  the  stubborn  old  monster  never  gave  us  a  flash 
of  welcome,  only  a  smoky  puff  now  and  then  to  tell  us  that 
he  was  a  monster  all  the  time,  if  he  only  chose  to  manifest 
his  awful  will.  We  stood  upon  the  deck  in  speculation, 
and  some  of  us  hoped  that  there  would  be  an  eruption  or 
something  worth  describing.  The  General  was  bent  on 
climbing  to  the  very  summit  and  looking  into  the  crater, 
and  with  that  purpose  we  started  on  the  morning  of  Tues 
day,  December  18th. 

"  We  should  have  gone  earlier,  but  many  high  people  in 
uniforms,  commanding  one  thing  or  another,  had  to  come 


AROUND  THE  WORLD. 

on  board  and  pay  their  respects.  It  was  ten  before  we  were 
under  way,  the  General  and  party  in  the  advance,  with  our 
courier,  whom  we  have  called  the  Marquis,  on  the  box,  and 
Mrs.  Grant's  maid  bringing  up  the  rear.  We  drove  all  the 
way. 

"  Vesuvius  is  now  a  double  mountain  upon  an  extended 
base  from  thirty  to  forty  miles  in  circumference,  not  more 
than  one  third  the  base  of  Etna.  Its  height  varies.  In 
1868  it  was  4,255  feet;  but  since  1872  it  has  slightly  dimin 
ished.  Stromboli  is  3,022  feet,  but,  although  in  constant 
motion,  the  stones  nearly  all  fall  back  into  the  crater. 
Etna  is  10,870  feet  in  height,  but  slopes  so  gradually,  and 
has  so  broad  a  base,  that  it  looks  more  like  a  table  land 
than  a  mountain.  I  did  not  see  Stromboli,  for  although 
we  sailed  near  it,  the  mis't  and  rain  hid  it  from  view.  I 
have  seen  Etna,  however,  and  think  it  far  less  imposing 
and  picturesque  than  Vesuvius. 

"  In  the  meantime  we  are  going  up  steadily.  The  horses 
go  slower  and  slower.  Some  of  us  get  out  and  help  them 
by  walking  part  of  the  way  and  taking  short  cuts.  The 
few  houses  that  we  see  on  the  roadside  have  evidently  been 
built  with  a  view  to  eruptions,  for  the  roofs  are  made  of 
heavy  stone  and  cement.  General  Grant  notes  that  where 
the  lava  and  stones  have  been  allowed  to  rest  and  to 
mingle  with  the  soil,  good  crops  spring  up,  and  here  and 
there  we  note  a  nourishing  bit  of  vineyard.  Soon,  however, 
vineyards  disappear,  and  after  the  vineyards  the  houses, 
except  an  occasional  house  of  shelter,  into  which  we  are 
all  invited  to  enter  and  drink  of  the  Tears  of  Christ. 

"  Still  we  climb  the  hill,  going  steadily  up.  Those  of 
us  who  thought  we  could  make  the  way  on  foot  repent,  for 
the  way  is  steep  and  the  road  is  hard.  All  around  us  is  an 
ocean  of  chaos  and  death.  There  in  all  forms  and  shapes 
lie  the  lava  streams  that  did  their  work  in  other  days,  black 


160        STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

and  cold  and  forbidding.  You  can  trace  the  path  of  each 
eruption  as  distinctly  as  the  windings  of  the  stream  from 
the  mountain  top.  We  are  now  high  up  on  the  mountain, 
and  beneath  us  is  the  valley  and  the  Bay  of  Naples,  with 
Ischia  and  Capri,  and  on  the  other  horizon  a  range  of 
mountains  tinged  and  tipped  with  snow.  In  one  direc 
tion  we  see  the  eruption  of  1872;  the  black  lava  stream 
bordered  with  green.  What  forms  and  shapes!  what  fan 
tastic,  horrible  shapes  the  fire  assumed  in  the  hours  of  its 
triumph!  I  can  well  see  how  Martial  and  Yirgil  and  the 
early  poets  saw  in  these  phenomena  the  strife  and  anger  of 
the  gods.  Yirgil  describes  Enceladus  transfixed  by  Jove 
and  the  mountain  thrown  _upon  him,  which  shakes  and 
trembles  whenever  he  turns  his  weary  sides.  This  is  the 
scene,  the  very  scene  of  his  immortal  agony.  There  are  no 
two  forms  alike;  all  is  black,  cold,  and  pitiless.  If  we  could 
only  see  one  living  thing  in  this  mass  of  destruction;  but 
all  is  death,  all  desolation.  Here  and  there,  where  the 
rains  have  washed  the  clay,  and  the  birds,  perhaps,  may 
have  carried  seed,  the  grass  begins  to  grow;  but  the  whole 
scene  is  desolation.  I  thought  of  the  earlier  ages,  when 
the  earth  was  black  and  void,  and  fancied  that  it  was  just 
such  an  earth  as  this  when  Divinity  looked  upon  it  and 
said,  "  Let  there  be  light."  I  thought  of  the  end  of  all 
things,  of  our  earth,  our  fair,  sweet  and  blooming  earth, 
again  a  mass  of  lava,  rock  and  ashes,  all  life  gone  out  of  it, 
rolling  through  space. 

"  The  presence  of  a  phenomenon  like  this,  and  right 
above  us  the  ever-seething  crater,  is  in  itself  a  solemn  and 
beautiful  sight.  We  all  felt  repaid  with  our  journey ;  for  by 
this  time  we  had  come  to  the  journey's  end,  and  our  mus 
ings  upon  eternity  and  chao's  did  not  forbid  thoughts  of 
luncheon.  For  the  wind  was  cold  and  we  were  hungry. 
So  when  our  illustrious  captain  intimated  that  we  might 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  161 

seek  a  place  of  refuge  and  entertainment,  a  light  gleamed 
in  the  eyes  of  the  Marquis,  and  he  reined  us  up  at  a  hos 
telry  called  the  Hermitage. 

"  There,  in  quite  a  primitive  fashion,  we  Jiad  our  lunch 
eon,  helping  ourselves  and  each  other  in  good  homely 
American  fashion,  for  we  were  as  far  from  the  amenities 
of  civilization  as  though  we  were  in  Montana. 

"  After  luncheon  we  walked  about,  looking  at  the  crater, 
where  fumes  were  quite  apparent — at  the  world  of  desola 
tion  around  us,  some  of  it  centuries  old,  but  as  fresh  and 
terrible  as  when  it  burst  from  the  world  of  fire  beneath  us. 
But  there  was  still  another  picture — one  of  sublime  and 
marvelous  beauty.  There  beneath  us,  in  the  clear,  sunny 
air — there  was  Naples,  queen  among  cities,  and  her  vil 
lages  clustering  about  her.  Beautiful,  wondrously  beauti 
ful,  that  panorama  of  hill  and  field  and  sea,  that  rolled 
before  us  thousands  of  feet  below!  We  could  count  twenty 
villages  in  the  plain,  their  white  roofs  massed  together  and 
spangling  the  green  plain  like  gems." 


162        STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

In  Egypt. 

General  Grant  arrived  in  Egypt  early  in  January,  1878. 
The  Khedive  gave  him  a  palace  in  the  suburbs  of  the  cap 
ital — an  Oriental  building,  with  a  French  decoration  and 
furniture — and  sent  him  up  the  Nile  in  his  own  yacht. 
General  Grant  made  the  fastest  Nile  trip  on  record.  He 
went  as  far  as  the  first  cataract,  the  Island  of  Philae, 
visiting  Thebes,  Abidos,  the  Pyramids,  and  Memphis,  and 
what  added  to  the  interest  of  the  visit  was  that  the  Khe 
dive  sent  with  the  party  perhaps  the  most  distinguished 
Egyptian  scholar  living,  Brugsch,  a  most  accomplished 
man,  who  knew  hieroglyphics  as  well  as  he  knew  his  own 
language,  and  made  everything  plain  to  the  company. 

"  What  a  blank  our  trip  would  be  without  Brugsch," 
said  the  General  one  day,  as  the  party  were  coming  back 
from  a  ruin.  John  Russell  Young,  who  accompanied 
General  Grant  up  the  Nile  describes  the  journey  and  pas 
times  as  follows: 

"We  breakfast  whenever  we  please — in  the  French 
fashion.  The  General  is  an  early  or  late  riser,  according 
as  we  have  an  engagement  for  the  day.  If  there  are  ruins 
to  be  seen  in  the  morning,  he  is  generally  first  on  the  deck 
with  his  Indian  helmet  swathed  in  silk,  and  as  he  never 
waits,  we  are  off  on  military  time.  If  there  are  no  sights 
to  be  seen,  the  morning  hours  drift  away.  We  lounge  on 
the  deck.  We  go  among  the  Arabs  and  see  them  cooking. 
We  lean  over  the  prow  and  watch  the  sailors  poke  the  Nile 
with  long  poles  and  call  out  the  message  from  its  bed. 
Sometimes  a  murderous  feeling  steals  over  some  of  the 
younger  people,  and  they  begin  to  shoot  at  a  stray  crane 
or  pelican.  I  am  afraid  these  shots  do  not  diminish  the 
resources  of  the  Nile,  and  the  General  suggests  that  the 
sportsmen  go  ashore  and  fire  at  the'poor,  patient,  drudging 


164         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

camel,  who  pulls  his  heavy-laden  hump  along  the  bank. 
There  are  long  pauses  of  silence,  in  which  the  General 
maintains  his  long-conceded  supremacy.  Then  come  little 
ripples  of  real,  useful  conversation,  when  the  General 
strikes  some  theme  connected  with  the  war  or  his  admin 
istration.  Then  one  wishes  that  he  might  gather  up  and 
bind  these  sheaves  of  history.  Or  perhaps  our  friend 
Brugsch  opens  upon  some  theme  connected  with  Egypt. 
And  we  sit  in  grateful  silence  while  he  tells  us  of  the 
giants  who  reigned  in  the  old  dynasties,  of  the  gods  they 
honored,  of  the  tombs  and  temples,  of  their  glory  and 
their  fall.  I  think  that  we  will  all  say  that  the  red-letter 
hours  of  our  Nile  journey  were  when  General  Grant  told 
us  how  he  met  Lee  at  Appomattox,  or  how  Sherman  fought 
at  Shiloh,  or  when  Brugsch,  in  a  burst  of  fine  enthusiasm, 
tells  us  of  the  glories  of  the  eighteenth  dynasty,  or  what 
Karnak  must  have  been  in  the  days  of  its  splendors  and 
its  pride.  But  you  must  not  suppose  that  we  have  nothing 
but  serious  talk  in  those  idle  hours  on  the  Nile." 


At  Pompeii. 

It  is  said  that  General  Grant,  in  speaking  of  his  journey 
abroad,  stated  that "  Pompeii  was  one  of  the  few  things  which 
had  not  disappointed  his  expectations;  that  the  truth  was 
more  striking  than  the  imagination  had  painted,"  and  that 
"  it  was  worth  a  journey  over  the  sea  to  see  and  study  its 
stately,  solemn  ruins." 

The  Italian  authorities  did  General  Grant  special  honor 
on  his  visit  to  this  place  by  directing  that  a  house  should 
be  excavated.  It  is  one  of  the  special  compliments  paid 
to  visitors  of  renown.  Houses  are  shown,  by  the  guide, 
that  have  been  excavated  in  the  presence  of  Mnrat  and  his 
queen,  of  Joseph  II,  Admiral  Farragut,  a;id  General  Sher- 


106         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

man,  arid  General  Sheridan.  These  houses  are  still  known 
by  the  names  of  the  illustrious  persons  who  witnessed  their 
excavation. 

General  Grant's  visit  was  known  only  to  a  few.     The 
quarter  selected  was  near  the   Forum.      Chairs  were  ar 
ranged  for  the  General.  Mrs.  Grant,  and  some  of  us,  and 
there  quietly,  in  a  room  that  had  known  Pompeiiari  life 
seventeen  centuries  ago,  we  "awaited  the  signal  that  was  to 
dig  up  the  ashes  that  had  fallen  from  Vesuvius  that  terri 
ble  night  in  August.     Our  group  was  composed   of  the 
General,  his  wife  and  son,  Mr.   Duncan,   the  American 
Consul   in  Naples,   Commander  Kobeson,  of   the  "  Yan- 
dalia,"  Lieutenants  Strong,  Miller  and  Rush,  and  Engineer 
Baird,  of  the- same  ship.     AVe  formed  .a  group  about  the 
General,  while  the  director  gave  the  workmen  the  signal. 
The  spades  dived  into  the  ashes,  while  with  eager  eyes  we 
looked  on.     What  story  would  be  revealed  of  that  day  of 
agony  and  death?     Perhaps  a  mother,  almost  in  the  frui 
tion  of  a  proud  mother's  hopes,  lying  in  the  calm  repose 
of  centuries,  like  the  figure  we  had  seen  only  an  hour  ago 
dug  from   these  very  ruins.      Perhaps  a  miser  hurrying 
with  his  coin  only  to  fall  in  his  doorway,  there  to  rest  in 
peace  while  seventeen  centuries  of  the  mighty  world  rolled 
over  him,  and  to  end  at  last  in  a  museum.     Perhaps  a  sol 
dier  fallen  at  his  post,  or  a  reveler  stricken  at  the  feast. 
All  these  things  have  been  given  us  from  Pompeii,  and 
we  Btood  watching  the  nimble  spades  and  the  tumbling 
ashes,  watching  with  the  greedy  eyes  of  gamblers  to  see 
what  chance  would  send.     Nothing  came  of  any  startling 
import.     There  were  two  or  three  bronze  ornaments,  a  loaf 
of  bread  wrapped  in  cloth,  the  grain  of  the  bread  and  the 
fiber  of  the  cloth  as  clearly  marked  as  when  the  probable 
remnant  of  an  humble  meal  was  put  aside  by  the  careful 
housewife's   hands.      Beyond   this,   and   some   fragments 


m 

if? 


i 


STREET  IN  CAIRO. 


167 


168         STORIES  AND  8KETGHE8  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

which  we  could  not  understand,  this  was  all  that  came 
from  the  excavation  of  Pompeii.  The  director  was  evi 
dently  disappointed.  He  expected  a  skeleton  at  the  very 
least  to  come  out  of  the  cruel  ashes  and  welcome  our  re 
nowned  guest,  who  had  come  so  many  thousand  miles  to 
this  Eoman  entertainment.  He  proposed  to  open  another 
ruin,  but  one  of  our  "  Yandalia  "  friends,  a  very  practical 
gentleman,  remembered  that  it  was  cold,  and  that  he  had 
been  walking  a  good  deal  and  was  hungry,  and  when  he 
proposed  that,  instead  of  excavating  another  ruin,  we 
should  "  excavate  a  beefsteak  "  at  the  restaurant  near  the 
gate  of  the  sea,  there  was  an  approval.  The  General,  who 
had  been  leisurely  smoking  his  cigar  and  studying  the 
scene  with  deep  interest,  quietly  assented,  and  thanking 
the  director  for  his  courtesy,  said  he  would  give  him  no 
more  trouble. 


In    Constantinople. 

Constantinople  as  seen  from  the  Bosphorus  is  the  most 
beautiful  city  in  the  world.  When  you  land,  however,  all 
the  illusion  passes  away. 

The  Turks  were  very  kind  to  General  Grant.  The  Sul 
tan,  although  he  was  at  the  time  of  the  General's  visit  in 
the  agony  of  signing  a  treaty  of  humiliation  and  dismem 
berment  for  his  country,  showed  him  great  attention. 
General  Grant  did  not  visit  the  Eussian  headquarters, 
although  he  was  anxious  to  do  so.  He  thought,  however, 
that  having  been  the  guest  of  the  Sultan  to  a  certain  extent, 
it  would  be  ungracious  for  him  to  go  from  the  palace  of 
his  host  to  the  headquarters  of  a  conquering  army  encamped 
in  the  suburbs  of  the  capital. 

There  was  some  criticism  at  the  time,  some  censure  of 
General  Grant  for  what  was  an  apparent  discourtesy  in  not 


170         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  OEN.  GRANT. 

visiting  the  Russian  army,  but  the  thing  was  talked  over 
at  the  time,  and  the  General  decided  not  to  go,  out  of  con 
sideration  for  the  feelings  of  his  hosts.  He  preferred  to 
see  the  Russians  in  Russia. 

Man}7  excursions  were  made  to  the  various  palaces  built 
by  the  recent  predecessors  of  the  present  Sultan,  who  all 
seemed  to  have  had  a  mania  for  building  costly  edifices, 
quite  indifferent  as  to  where  the  money  came  from. 

Some  of  the  party,  with  antiquarian  zeal,  visited  the 
great  Hippodrome,  which  once  was  the  rival  of  the  Roman 
Coliseum. 

One  thing  which  General  Grant  observed  as  being  pe 
culiar  in  Constantinople  was  its  quiet  after  a  certain  hour 
at  night.  By  half-past  nine,  there  are  no  moving  figures 
in  the  streets,  save  that  of  an  occasional  patrol  of  soldiers 
going  to  the  relief  of  a  post. 


In  Jerusalem. 

General  Grant's  visit  to  the  Holy  Land  is  said  to  have 
been  exceedingly  interesting,  though  the  party  was  unfor 
tunate  so  far  as  the  weather  was  concerned.  The  heaviest 
snow  storm  which  had  fallen  in  twelve .  years  greeted  the 
General  on  his  arrival,  but,  notwithstanding,  his  reception 
was  enthusiastic. 

We  had  expected,  says  Mr.  Young,  to  enter  Jerusa 
lem  in  our  quiet,  plain  way,  pilgrims  really  coming  to  see 
the  Holy  City,  awed  by  its  renowned  memories. 

But  lo  and  behold!  Here  is  an  army  with  banners,  and 
we  are  commanded  to  enter  as  conquerors,  in  a  triumphal 
manner!  Well,  I  know  of  one  in  that  company  who  looked 
with  sorrow  upon  the  pageantry,  and  he  it  was  for  whom 
it  was  intended. 


172          STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

The  General  had  just  been  picturing  to  his  companions 
what  a  pleasant  thing  it  would  be  to  reach  Jerusalem 
about  five,  to  go  to  our  hotel,  and  stroll  around  quietly 
and  see  the  town.  There  would  be  no  palaces,  or  soldiers, 
or  ceremonies,  such  as  had  honored  and  oppressed  us  in 
Egypt.  But  the  General  had  scarcely  drawn  this  picture 
of  what  his  fancy  hoped  would  await  him  in  the  Holy 
City,  when  the  horsemen  came  galloping  out  of  the  rain 
and  mist,  and  told  us  we  were  expected. 

"Well,  there  was  no  help  for  it,  for  there  were  cavalry, 
and  the  music,  and  the  dragomans  of  all  nations,  in  pic 
turesque  costumes,  and  the  American  flag  floating,  and 
our  Consul,  the  proudest  man  in  Palestine. 

Arrived  at  the  city,  General  Grant  was  at  once  called 
upon  by  the  Pacha  and  the  Consuls."  The  Bishops  and 
the  Patriarchs  all  came  and  blessed  the  General  and  his 
house.  The  Pacha  sent  his  band  of  fifty  pieces  in  the 
evening  to^  serenade  the  ex-President.  The  Pacha  also 
gave  a  state  dinner,  which  was  largely  attended. 

Early  the  following  morning  General  Grant  stole  away, 
before  the  reception  ceremonies,  and  walked  over  the  street 
Via  Dolorosa,  consecrated  to  Christianity  as  the  street 
over  which  Jesus  carried  His  cross.  The  General  lived, 
while  in  Jerusalem,  within  five  minutes'  walk  of  Calvary, 
and  with  this  sacred  mount  in  plain  sight  from  his  win 
dow. 


AROUND  THE  WOULD.        .  173 

General   Grant    and   Prince    Bismarck — An   Interesting  Interview 
between  Two  Remarkably  Great  Men. 

Soon  after  General  Grant's  arrival  in  Berlin,  he  called 
upon  Prince  JBismarck,  going  to  the  palace  alone  and  on 
foot.  As  he  passes  into  the  court-yard,  the  sentinels  pre 
sent  arms,  and  the  General  raises  his  hat  in  honor  of  the 
salute.  The  doors  are  opened,  and  the  Prince,  taking  the 
General  by  the  hand,  said: 

"  Glad  to  welcome  General  Grant  to  Germany." 

The  General  answered  that  there. was  no  incident  in 
his  German  visit  that  more  interested  him  than  this  op 
portunity  of  meeting  the  Prince. 

Bismarck  expressed  surprise  at  seeing  the  General  so 
young  a  man,  but  on  a  comparison  of  ages  it  was  found 
that  Bismarck  was  only  eleven  years  the  General's  senior. 

"  That,"  said  the  Prince,  "  shows  the  value  of  a  military 
life ;  for  here  you  have  the  frame  of  a  young  man,  while  I 
feel  like  an  old  man." 

The^  General,  smiling,  announced  that  he  was  at  that 
period  of  life  when  he  could  have  no  higher  compliment 
than  being  called  a  young  man.  By  this  time  the  Prince 
had  escorted  the  General  to  a  chair. 

It  was  his  library  or  study,  and  an  open  window  looked 
out  upon  a  beautiful  park,  upon  which  the  warm  June  sun 
was  shining.  This  is  the  private  park  of  the  Eadziwill 
Palace,  which  is  now  Bismarck's  Berlin'  home.  The  library 
is  a  large,  spacious  room,  the  walls  a  gray  marble,  and  the 
furniture  plain.  In  one  corner  is  a  large  and  high  writing- 
desk,  where  the  Chancellor  works,  and  on  the  varnished 
floors  a  few  rugs  are  thrown. 

The  Prince  speaks  English  with  precision,  but  slowly, 
as  though  lacking  in  practice,  now  and  then  taking  refuge 
in  a  French  word,  but  showing  a  thorough  command  of  the 
language. 


CATHEDRAL  AT  STBASSBUBO. 
174 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  175 

After  inquiring  after  the  health  of  General  Sheridan, 
who  was  a  fellow-campaigner  in  France,  and  became  a 
great  friend  of  Bismarck's,  they  discussed  the  Eastern 
question,  military  armament  and  strength,  and  the  late 
atrocious  attempt  to  assassinate  the  Emperor,  giving  the 
two  great  men  an  opportunity  to  discuss  this  phase  of  so 
cialism.  In  speaking  of  this  attempt  on  the  life  of  the 
Emperor,  the  Prince  paid  the  following  glowing  tribute  to 
the  Emperor: 

"  It  is  so  strange,  so  strange  and  so  sad.  Here  is  an  old 
man — one  of  the  kindest  old  gentlemen  in  the  world — and 
yet  they  must  try  and  shoot  him !  There  never  was  a  more 
simple,  more  genuine,  more — what  shall  I  say? — more  hu 
mane  character  than  the  Emperor's.  He  is  totally  unlike 
men  born  in  his  station,  or  many  of  them,  at  least.  You 
know  that  men  who  come  into  the  world  in  his  rank,  born 
princes,  are  apt  to  think  themselves  of  another  race  and 
another  world.  They  are  apt  to  take  small  account  of  the 
wishes  and  feelings  of  others.  All  their  education  tends 
to  deaden  the  human  side.  But  this  Emperor  is  so  much 
of  a  man  in  all  things !  He  never  did  any  one  a  wrong  in 
his  life.  He  never  wounded  any  one's  feelings;  never  im 
posed  a  hardship!  He  is  the  most  genial  and  winning  of 
men — thinking  always,  anxious  always  for  the  comfort 
and  welfare  of  his  people,  of  those  around  him.  You  can 
not  conceive  a  finer  type  of  the  noble,  courteous,  charitable 
old  gentleman,  with  every  high  quality  of  a  prince,  as 
well  as  every  virtue  of  a  man.  I  should  have  supposed 
that  the  Emperor  could  have  walked  alone  all  over  the 
Empire  without  harm,  and  yet  they  must  try  and  shoot 
him." 

The  Prince  asked  the  General  when  he  might  have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  Mrs.  Grant.  The  General  answered 
that  she  would  receive  him  at  any  convenient  hour. 


176         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

"  Then,"  said  the  Prince,  "  I  will  come  to-morrow  before 
the  Congress  meets." 

Both  gentlemen  arose,  and  the  General  renewed  the  ex 
pression  of  his  pleasure  at  having  seen  a  man  who  was  so 
well  known  and  so  highly  esteemed  in  America. 

"General,"  answered  the  Prince,  "the  pleasure  and  the 
honor  are  mine.  Germany  and  America  have  always  been 
in  so  friendly  a  relation  that  nothing  delights  us  more 
than  to  meet  Americans,  and  especially  an  American  who 
has  done  so  much  for  his  country,  and  whose  name  is  so 
much  honored  in  Germany  as  your  own." 

The  Prince  and  the  General  walked  side  by  side  to  the 
door,  and  after  shaking  hands  the  General  passed  into  the 
square.  The  guard  presented  arms,  and  the  General  lit  a 
fresh  cigar  and  slowly  strolled  home. 

"  I  am  glad  I  have  seen  Bismarck,"  he  remarked.  "  He 
is  a  man  whose  manner  and  bearing  fully  justify  the 
opinions  one  forms  of  him.  What  he  says  about  the  Em 
peror  was  beautifully  said,  and  should  be  known  to  all  the 
Germans -and  those  who  esteem  Germany." 


In  Edinburgh. 

After  a  "  run  to  the  Continent,"  General  Grant  returned 
to  the  "  English  Speaking  "  realm  of  the  old  world,  and  in 
reply  to  the  Lord  Provost's  speech  at  Edinburgh,  in  Scotland, 
said: 

t  am  so  filled  with  emotion  that  I  hardly  know  how  to  thank  you  for 
the  honor  conferred  upon  me  by  making  me  a  burgess  of  this  ancient 
city  of  Edinburgh.  I  feel  that  it  is  a  great  compliment  to  me  and  to  my 
country.  Had  I  eloquence  I  might  dwell  somewhat  on  the  history  of  the 
great  men  you  have  produced,  or  the  numerous  citizens  of  this  city  and 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  177 

Scotland  that  have  gone  to  America,  and  the  record  they  have  made. 
We  are  proud  of  Scotchmen  as  citizens  of  America.  They  make  good 
citizens  of  our  country,  and  they  find  it  profitable  to  themselves.  (Laugh 
ter.)  I  again  thank  you  for  the  honor  you  have  conferred  upon  me. 


Grant's  Speech  in  Glasgow. 

General  Grant  visited  Glasgow  September  13,  where  he 
was  warmly  received.  T-he  usual  reception  followed,  where 
Grant  made  the  following  eloquent  speech: 

I  rise  to  thank  you  for  the  great  honor  that  has  been  conferred  upon 
me  this  day  by  making  me  a  free  burgess  of  this  great  city  of  Glasgow. 
The  honor  is  one  that  I  shall  cherish,  and  I  shall  always  remember  this 
day. 

When  I  am  back  in  my  own  country,  I  will  be  able  to  refer  with  pride 
not  only  to  my  visit  to  Glasgow,  but  to  all  the  different  towns  in  this 
kingdom  that  I  have  had  the  pleasure  and  the  honor  of  visiting.  (Ap 
plause.) 

I  find  that  I  am  being  made  so  much  a  citizen  of  Scotland,  it  will 
become  a  serious  question  where  I  shall  go  to  vote.  (Laughter  and  ap 
plause.)  You  have  railroads  and  other  facilities  for  getting  from  one  place 
to  another,  and  I  might  vote  frequently  in  Scotland  by  starting  early.  I 
do  not  know  how  you  punish  that  crime  over  here ;  it  is  a  crime  that  is  very 
often  practiced  by  people  who  come  to  our  country  and  become  citizens 
there  by  adoption.  In  fact,  I  think  they  give  the  majority  of  the  votes. 
I  do  not  refer  to  Scotchmen  particularly,  but  to  naturalized  citizens. 

But  to  speak  more  seriously,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  feel  the  honor  of 
this  occasion,  and  I  beg  to  thank  you,  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  this  city 
of  Glasgow,  for  the  kind  words  of  your  Lord  Provost,  and  for  the  kind 
expression  of  this  audience. 
12 


178         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 
Speech  at  Newcastle. 

The  following  address  was  in  reply  to  the  remarks  by 
the  President  of  the  Newcastle  Chamber  of  Commerce: 

The  President  in  his  remarks  has  alluded  to  the  personal  friendship 
existing  between  the  two  nations — I  will  not  say  the  two  peoples,  because 
we  are  one  people  (applause) ;  but  we  are  two  nations  having  a  common 
destiny,  and  that  destiny  will  be  brilliant  in  proportion  to  the  friendship 
and  co-operation  of  the  brethren  on  the  two  sides  of  the  water.  (Ap 
plause.) 

During  my  eight  years  of  Presidency,  it  was  my  study  to  heal  up  all 
the  sores  that  were  existing  between  us.  (Applause.)  That  healing 
was  accomplished  in  a  manner  honorable  to  the  nations.  (Applause.) 
From  that  day  to  this  feelings  of  amity  have  been  constantly  growing, 
as  I  think ;  I  know  it  has  been  so  on  our  side,  and  I  believe  never  to  be 
disturbed  again. 

These  are  two  nations  which  ought  to  be  at  peace  with  each  other. 
We  ought  to  strive  to  keep  at  peace  with  all  the  world  besides  (applause), 
and  by  our  example  stop  those  wars  which  have  devastated  our  own 
countries,  and  are  now  devastating  some  countries  in  Europe. 


»  Let  us  Have  Peace." 

Before  one  of  the  English  societies,  organized  in  the  in 
terest  of  peace,  the  General  made  the  following  speech: 

MEMBERS  OP  THE  MIDLAND  INTERNATIONAL  ARBITRATION  UNIOUT  : — 
I  thank  you  for  your  address.  It  is  one  that  gives  me  very  little  to  reply 
to,  more  than  to  express  my  thanks.  Though  I  have  followed  a  military 
life  for  the  better  part  of  my  years,  there  was  never  a  day  of  my  life 
when  I  was  not  in  favor  of  peace  on  any  terms  that  were  honorable. 

It  has  been  my  misfortune  to  be  engaged  in  more  battles  than  any 
other  general  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic;  but  there  was  never  a 
time  during  my  command  that  I  would  not  have  gladly  chosen  some 
settlement  by  reason  rather  than  by  the  sword. 


180         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

I  am  conscientiously,  and  have  been  from  the  beginning,  an  advocate 
of  what  the  society  represented  by  you,  gentlemen,  is  seeking  to  carry 
out ;  and  nothing  would  afford  me  greater  happiness  than  to  know,  as  I 
believe  to  be  the  case,  that,  at  some  future  day,  the  nations  of  the  earth 
will  agree  upon  some  sort  of  congress,  which  shall  take  cognizance  of 
international  questions  of  difficulty,  and  whose  decisions  will  be  as 
binding  as  the  decision  of  our  Supreme  Court  is  binding  on  us. , 

It  is  a  dream  of  mine  that  some  such  solution  may  be  found  for  all 
questions  of  difficulty  that  may  arise  between  different  nations.  In  one 
of  the  addresses,  I  have  forgotten  which,  reference  was  made  to  the  dis 
missal  of  the  army  to  the  pursuits  of  peaceful  industry. 

1  would  gladly  see  the  millions  of  men  who  are  now  supported  by 
the  industry  of  the  nations  return  to  industrial  pursuits,  and  thus  be 
come  self-sustaining,  and  take  off  the  tax  upon  labor  which  is  now 
levied  for  their  support. 


Address  to  the  Working  People. 

The  address  of  the  General  at  Tyneside,  in  behalf  of  the 
workingmen,  was  prefaced  by  some  eloquent  remarks  of 
Mr.  Burt,  M.  P.,  the  closing  words  of  which  were  as  fol 
lows  : 

"  And  now,  General,  in  our  final  words  we  greet  you  as  a  sincere  friend 
of  labor.  Having  attested  again  and  again  your  deep  solicitude  for  the 
industrial  classes,  and  having  also  nobly  proclaimed  the  dignity  of  labor 
by  breaking  the  chains  of  the  slave,  you  are  entitled  to  our  sincere  and 
unalloyed  gratitude;  and  our  parting  wish  is,  that  the  general  applause 
which  you  have  received  in  your  own  country,  and  are  now  receiving  in 
this,  for  the  many  triumphs  which  you  have  to  gloriously  achieved,  may 
be  succeeded  by  a  peaceful  repose,  and  that  the  sunset  of  your  life  may 
be  attended  with  all  the  blessings  that  this  earth  can  afford." 

General  Grant  then  arose  and  delivered  one  of  his  longest 
and  best  speeches.  It  was  as  follows: 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  181 

"MR.  BURT  AND  WORKINGMEN: — Through  you  I  will  return  thanks 
to  the  workingmen  of  Tyneside  for  the  very  acceptable  welcome  address 
which  you  have  just  read.  I  accept  from  that  class  of  people  the  recep 
tion  which  they  have  accorded  me,  as  among  the  most  honorable.  We 
all  know  that  but  for  labor  we  would  have  very  little  that  is  worth 
fighting  for,  and  when  wars  do  come  they  fall  upon  the  many,  the  pro 
ducing  class,  who  are  the  sufferers.  They  not  only  have  to  furnish  the 
means  largely,  but  they  have,  by  their  labor  and  industry,  to  produce 
the  means  for  those  who  are  engaged  in  destroying  and  not  in  pro 
ducing. 

"  I  was  always  a  man  of  peace,  and  I  have  always  advocated  peace, 
although  educated  a  soldier.  I  never  willingly,  although  I  have  gone 
through  two  wars,  of  my  own  accord  advocated  war.  (Loud  cheers.) 

"  I  advocated  what  I  believed  to  be  right,  and  I  have  fought  for  it  to 
the  best  of  my  ability  in  order  that  an  honorable  peace  might  be  secured. 
You  have  been  pleased  to  allude  to  the  friendly  relations  existing  be 
tween  the  two  great  nations  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  They  are 
now  most  friendly,  and  the  friendship  has  been  increasing. 

"Our  interests  are  so  identified,  we  are  so  much  related  to  each 
other,  that  it  is  my  sincere  hope,  and  it  has  been  the  sincere  hope  of 
my  life,  and  especially  of  my  official  life,  to  maintain  that  friendship. 
I  entertain  views  of  the  progress  to  be  made  in  the  future  by  the  union 
and  friendship  of  the  great  English-speaking  people,  for  I  believe  that  it 
\\i\\  result  in  the  spread  of  our  language,  our  civilization,  and  our  in 
dustry,  and  be  for  the  benefit  of  mankind  generally.  (Cheers.) 

"  I  do  not  know,  Mr.  Burt,  that  there  is  anything  more  for  me  to  say, 
except  that  I  would  like  to  communicate  to  the  people  whom  I  see 
assembled  before  me  here  this  day,  how  greatly  I  feel  the  honor  which 
they  have  conferred  upon  me."  (Cheers.) 


183         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

-* 

Speech  in  Sheffield— Grant's  First  Penknife. 

General  Grant  visited  Sheffield  on  the  26th  of  Septem 
ber.  The  town  was  decorated,  and  the  General  arrived  on 
the  Pullman  palace  car.  He  drove  to  the  Cutlers'  Hall. 
The  aklermen  were  present  in  scarlet,  and  the  councilors 
in  purple.  In  the  center  of  the  platform  "three  chairs 
were  reserved  for  the  Mayor,  the  General,  and  Mrs.  Grant.  . 
The  Mayor  welcomed  the  General  to  Sheffield,  and  an  ad 
dress  was  read  in  which  America  was  congratulated  on 
having  abolished  slavery.  In  his  response  the  General 
said: 

MR.  MAYOR,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  OP  SHEFFIELD:— I  have  just 
heard  the  address  which  has  been  read  and  presented  to  me,  with  great 
gratification.  It  affords  me  singular  pleasure  to  visit  a  city  the  name 
of  which  has  been  familiar  to  me  from  my  earliest  childhood.  I  think 
the  first  penknife  I  ever  owned,  away  out  in  the  western  part  of  the 
State  of  Ohio,  was  marked  "  Sheffield."  I  think  the  knives  and  forks 
we  then  used  on  our  table  had  all  of  them  "  Sheffield  "  marked  on  them. 
I  do  not  know  whether  they  were  counterfeit  or  not,  but  it  gave  them  a 
good  market.  From  that  day  to  this  the  name  of  your  industrial  city 
has  been  familiar,  not  only  in  the  States,  but  I  suppose  throughout  the 
civilized  world.  The  city  h?s  been  distinguished  for  its  industry,  its 
inventions,  and  its  progress/  If  our  commerce  has  not  increased  as 
much  as  you  might  wish,  yet  it  has  increased,  1  think,  with  Sheffield 
since  the  days  of  which  I  spoke  when  we  had  no  cutlery  excepting  that 
marked  "Sheffield."  It  must  be  very  much  larger  than  it  was  then. 
We  are  getting  to  make  some  of  those  things  ourselves,  and  I  believe 
occasionally  we  put  our  own  stamp  upon  them ;  but  Sheffield  cutlery 
still  has  a  high  place  in  the  markets  of  the  world.  I  assure  you  the 
welcome  I  have  received  here  to-day  affords  me  very  great  pleasure, 
and  I  shall  carry  away  with  me  the  pleasant  recollections  of  what  I 
have  seen  in  Sheffield. 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  183 

General  Grant's  Great  Speech  in  Birmingham. 

"  MR.  MAYOR,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  OF  BIRMINGHAM':— I  scarcely 
know  how  to  respond  to  a  toast  which  has  been  presented  in  such  elo 
quent  language,  and  in  terms  so  complimentary  to  myself  and  to  the 
nation  to  which  I  belong,  and  in  which  I  have  had  the  honor  of  holding 
a  public  position.  There  are  some  few  points,  however,  alluded  to  by 
your  representative  in  Parliament,  that  1  will  respond  to.  He  alluded 
to  the  great  merit  of  retiring  a  large  army  at  the  close  of  a  great  war 
If  he  had  ever  been  in  my  position  for  four  years,  and  undergone  all  the 
anxiety  and  care  that  I  had  in  the  management  of  those  large  armies,  he 
would  appreciate  how  happy  I  was  to  be  able  to  say  that  they  could  be 
dispensed  with.  (Laughter  and  applause.)  I  disclaim  all  credit  and 
praise  for  doing  that  one  thing. 

"  I  knew  that  I  was  doomed  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
and,  so  far  as  my  personal  means  went,  to  aid  in  ^eradicating  the  debt 
already  created,  and  in  paying  my  share  of  any  expenses  that  might 
have  to  be  borne  for  the  support  of  a  large  standing  army. 

"  Then,  further,  we  Americans  claim  to  be  so  much  of  Englishmen, 
and  to  have  so  much  general  intelligence,  and  so  much  personal  inde 
pendence  and  individuality,  that  we  do  not  quite  believe  that  it  is  pos 
sible  for  any  one  man  there  to  assume  any  more  right  and  authority 
than  the  constitution  of  the  land  gave  to  him.  (Hear,  hear.)  Among 
the  English-speaking  people  we  do  not  think  these  things  possible. 

"  We  can  fight  among  ourselves,  and  dispute  and  abuse  each  other, 
but  we  will  not  allow  ourselves  to  be  abused  outside ;  nor  will  those  who 
look  on  at  our  little  personal  quarrels  in  our  own  midst  permit  us  to  in 
terfere  with  their  own  rights.  Now,  there  is  one  subject  that  has  been 
alluded  to  here  that  I  do  not  know  that  I  should  speak  upon  it  at  all ; 
I  have  heard  it  occasionally  whispered  since  I  have  been  in  England 
— and  that  is,  the  [great  advantages  that  would  accrue  to  the  United 
States  if  free  trade  should  only  be  established. 

"  I  have  a  sort  of  recollection,  through  reading,  that  England  herself 
had  a  protective  tariff  until  she  had  manufactories  somewhat  established. 
I  think  we  are  rapidly  progressing  in  the  way  of  establishing  manufac- 


184      STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

lories  ourselves,  and  I  believe  we  shall  become  one  of  the  greatest  free- 
trade  nations  on  the  face  of  the  earth ;  and  when  we  both  come  to  be 
free-traders,  I  think  that  probably  the  balance  of  nations  had  better  stand 
aside,  and  not  contend  with  us  at  all  in  the  markets  of  the  world. 

"If  I  had  been  accustomed  to  public  speaking — I  never  did  speak  in 
public  in  my  life  until  I  came  to  England— I  -would  respond  further  to 
this  toast;  but  I  believe  that  the  better  policy  would  be  to  thank  }-ou  not 
only  for  the  toast,  and  the  language  in  which  it  lias  been  presented,  but 
for  the  very  gratifying  reception  which  I  have  ha  I  personally  in  Bir 
mingham." 

Speech  in  Brighton. 

In  response  to  the  Mayor's  address  of  welcome,  the 
General  said: 

"MR.  MAYOR  AKD  GENTLEMEN:— I  have  to  rise  here  in  answer  to  a 
toast  that  has  made  it  embarrassing  to  me,  by  the  very  complimentary 
terms  in  which  it  has  been  proposed.  But  I  can  say  to  you  all,  gen 
tlemen,  that  since  my  arrival  in  England,  I  have  had  the  most  agreeable 
receptions  everywhere;  and  I  enjoy  yours  exceedingly. 

"  In  a  word,  I  will  say  that  Brighton  has  advantages  which  very  few 
places  have,  in  consequence  of  its  proximity  to  the  greatest  city  in  the 
world.  There  you  can  go  and  transact  your  business,  and  return  in 
the  evening. 

14  If  I  were  an  Englishman,  I  think  I  should  select  Brighton  as  a  place 
where  I  should  live,  and  I  am  very  sure  you  could  not  meet  a  jollier  and 
better  people  anywhere.  But  I  would  say  one  word  in  regard  to  a  toast 
which  preceded,  and  that  is  in  regard  to  your  Forces.  I  must  say  one 
word  for  the  Volunteers,  or  Reserve  Forces,  as  I  believe  you  call  them. 
They  arc  what  the  English-speaking  people  are  to  rely  on  in  the  future. 
I  believe  that  wherever  there  is  a  great  war  between  one  civilized  nation 
and  another,  it  will  be  these  Forces  in  which  they  will  have  to  place 
their  confidence. 

"We  English-speaking  people  keep  up  the  public  schools  in  order  to 
maintain  and  advance  the  intelligence  of  our  country,  and,  in  time,  fit 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  185 

our  people  for  volunteer  service,  and  for  higher  training;  and  you  will 
always  find  the  men  among  them  who  are  equal  to  any  occasion.  I 
have  forgotten  a  good  deal  your  Mayor  has  said  that  I  would  like  to 
respond  to,  but  I  can  say,  that  since  1  landed  in  Liverpool,  my  recep 
tion  has  been  most  gratifying  to  me. 

"  I  regard  that  reception  as  an  evidence  of  the  kindest  of  feeling 
toward  my  country,  and  I  can  assure  you,  if  we  go  on  as  good  friends 
and  good  neighbors,  that  the  English-speaking  people  are  going  to 
be  the  'greatest  people  in  the  world.  Our  language  is  spreading 
with  greater  rapidity  than  the  language  of  any  other  nation  ever  did* 
and  we  are  becoming  the  commercial  people  of  the  world." 


Greece  and  Rome. 

The  General's  visits  to  Greece  and  Rome  were  very  pleas 
ant.  "  We  had,"  says  a  friend  in  the  party,  "  a  very  inter 
esting  time  in  Greece — most  interesting.  We  saw  a  great 
deal  of  the  King  of  Greece,  a  bright,  interesting  young 
gentleman — who  came  on  board  the  Yandalia  and  spent  an 
afternoon  with  General  Grant.  They  talked  a  great  deal 
about  the  relations  of  Greece  and  Turkey,  and  the  King 
was  anxious,  I  observed,  to  have  General  Grant's  advice  as 
to  the  best  attitude  for  Greece  to  take.  The  King  looks  a 
good  deal  like  his  sister,  the  Princess  of  Wales.  He  talked 
English  very  well,  and  seemed  to  be  an  earnest,  resolute 
man,  wrapped  up  in  the  success  of  his  little  kingdom.  He 
has  a  hard  time,  though,  between  the  jealousies  of  the 
great  powers  and  the  iiercc  enmity  of  Turkey. 

"  When  they  came  to  Eome,  Cardinal  McCloskey  called 
on  General  Grant  and  introduced  him  to  the  Vatican." 


186        STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

In  Russia. 

General  Grant  arrived  at  St.  Petersburg  July  30,  where 
he  was  met  by  Minister  Stoughton.  The  Emperor's  Aid- 
de-camp,  Prince  Gortschakoff,  and  other  high  officials  of 
the  imperial  court,  called  immediately,  welcoming  the  ex- 
President  in  the  name  of  the  Czar. 

On  the  following  day  General  Grant  had  an  audience 
with  the  Emperor.  The  fountains  were  played  in  his  honor. 

He  afterward  visited  the  great  Russian  man-of-war,  Pe 
ter  the  Great.  The  band  played  American  airs,  and  a  royal 
salute  of  twenty-one  guns  was  fired.  The  imperial  yacht 
then  steamed  slowly  among  the  Russian  fleet  lying  off 
Cronstadt,  the  ships  running  out  American  colors,  and  the 
sailors  cheering. 

Subsequently  the  General  had  an  interview  with  the 
Czar  at  St.  Petersburg.  The  Emperor  manifested  great 
cordiality.  His  Majesty  talked  of  his  health  and  the  Gen 
eral's  travels,  arid  seemed  greatly  interested  in  our  national 
wards,  the  Indians.  At  the  close  of  the  interview,  the 
Emperor  accompanied  General  Grant  to  the  door,  saying: 
"  Since  the  foundation  of  your  government,  the  relations 
between  Russia  and  America  have  been  of  the  friendliest 
character,  and  as  long  as  I  live  nothing  shall  be  spared  to 
continue  that  friendship." 

The  General  answered  that,  although  the  two  govern 
ments  were  directly  opposite  in  character,  the  great  major 
ity  of  the  American  people  were  in  sympathy  with  Russia, 
and  would,  he  hoped,  so  continue. 

At  the  station,  General  Grant  .met  the  Grand  Duke 
Alexis,  who  was  very  cordial,  recalling  with  pleasure  his 
visits  to  America. 

On  the  9th  instant  he  was  in  Moscow,  the  ancient  capi 
tal  of  Russia,  and  four  days  later  at  Warsaw.  At  all  these 
places  the  General  was  most  cordially  received. 


NAPOLEON  WITNESSING  THE  BURNING  OF  Moscow. 


188         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 
In    th*    Orient. 

J.  Russell  Young,  who  has  been  with  General  Grant 
in  his  travels,  sums  up  their  visit  to  China  and  Japan  in 
the  following  interesting  account  :  While  we  were  at 
Hong  Kong  we  visited  Canton,  which  was  really  our  first 
knowledge  of  China.  The  reception  of  General  Grant  at 
Hong  Kong  was  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  of  the  trip. 
There  had  been  a  good  deal  of  anxiety  about  his  coming, 
and  the  Viceroy  sent  word  that  if  General  Grant  preferred 
it  he  would  have  the  city  closed  upon  the  day  of  his  visit. 
It  is  customary  in  Chinese  cities  when  the  Emperor  passes 
through  to  close  all  the  shops,  and  the  Viceroy  thought  he 
ought  to  pay  the  General  the  same  courtesy,  but  General 
Grant  said  he  wanted  to  see  the  people,  consequently  when 
he  visited  the  Yamen,  the  Viceroy's  palace,  to  dine  with  the 
Viceroy,  it  was  through  a  crowd  estimated  at  about  200,000 
persons.  It  was  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  sights  I 
ever  saw  in  my  life.  The  journey  was  between  three  and 
four  miles.  We  went  in  chairs.  I  could  not  have  im 
agined  such  a  mass  of  human  beings,  silent,  curious,  inter 
ested,  and  on  the  qui  vive,  for  "  the  American  Emperor," 
as  they  called  him,  expecting  to  see  a  mysterious,  super 
natural  personage,  in  uniform;  disappointed  at  seeing  only 
a  plain,  middle-sized  gentleman,  wearing  summer  clothes 
and  a  straw  hat. 

From  Shanghai  we  went  to  Tientsin,  where  we  met  the 
greatest  man  in  China,  the  Viceroy  of  that  Province,  Li- 
Hung-Chang,  who,  in  addition  to  the  office  of  Viceroy, 
also  enjoys  that  of  Grand  Secretary  of  State,  Guardian  of 
the  Emperor,  Commander  of  the  Army,  and  Secretary  of 
War.  He  had  command  of  the  army  that  put  down  the 
rebellion  against  the  Taepings,  is  of  the  same  age  as  Gen 
eral  Grant,  and  had  expressed  the  greatest  anxiety  to  see 


1-.0 


100       STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT 

the  General.  The  Viceroy  is  a  haughty,  imperial  person, 
whose  relations  with  foreigners  have  never  been  agreeable; 
but,  in  receiving  General  Grant,  he  did  violence  to  all  tra 
ditions  of  Chinese  courtesy  and  diplomacy,  called  on  him 


first,  gave  him  dinners,  met  him  at 


where  ladies 


were  present — a  thing  never  known  of  before  in  China — and 
spent  most  of  his  time  with  the  General,  talking  about  the 
Loo  Choo  question  with  Japan.  The  General  was  very 


THE  CHINESE  WALL. 


much  impressed  with  Li-Hung-Chnng,  who  is  the  most 
advanced  of  the  Chinese  statesmen 

At  Peking  we  met  all  tl;e  leading  statesmen  of  the 
Chinese  Government.  We  did  not  see  the  Emperor,  who 
is  a  boy  seven  years  old:  but  we  saw,  several  times,  the 
Prince  Regent,  Prince  Kung.  Prince  Knng  is  a  Tartar; 
Li  Hung-Chang  is  a  Chinaman. 

When  General  Grant  reached  Yokohama  he  was  received 
by  members  of  the  Cabinet,  Princes  of  the  household,  and 


1U2         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

taken  to  Tokio,  about  an  hour's  ride  by  rail  from  Yoko 
hama.  The  Emperor  gave  him  a  palace  near  the  sea, 
where  he  lived  during  his  stay  in  Japan,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  the  time  for  two  excursions.  The  visit  to  Japan 
was  very  pleasant  in  every  way.  I  think  that  the  most 
important  problem  in  modern  politics  is  the  future  of 
China  and  Japan.  I  think  our  foreign  policy  should  be 
directed  more  directly  to  China  and  Japan  than  to  Euro 
pean  countries.  I  know  that  it  has  interested  General 
Grant  very  much;  in  fact,  I  think  that  if  he  were  ques 
tioned  on  the  subject  he  would  say  that  his  experiences  in 
China  and  Japan  were  the  most  important  of  his  whole 
journey. 


General  Grant's  Return. 

General  Grant  touched  his  native  shores  at  San  Francisco 
September  20,  1879.  To  say  that  he  was  enthusiastically 
welcomed  by  that  golden  city  by  the  sea  is  not  telling  all 
the  truth.  The  whole  country  joined  in  the  grand  recep 
tion  extended.  The  General  himself  was  overwhelmed, 
and  when  the  opportunity  was  given  his  words  of  thank 
fulness  were  lost  amid  shouts  of  50,000  people.  It  will 
never  be  known  just  what  he  said  on  that  occasion. 

After  his  reception  in  San  Francisco,  the  General  made 
a  visit  to  Oregon,  where  he  was  also  most  heartily  received, 
lie  had  been  in  California  and  Oregon  as  a  soldier,  a  quar 
ter  of  a  century  before,  and  was  highly  gratified,  as  often 
stated  in  his  speeches,  to  find  them  so  greatly  improved. 

General  Grant  had  now  been,  practically,  around  the 
world.  It  was  exceedingly  gratifying  to  find  him  enjoying 
the  best  of  health,  and  to  hear  him  say,  in  the  widest  sense 
of  the  phrase: 

"  There  is  uo  place  like  borne." 


GENEliAL  GKANT  AFTER  HIS  KETURX 


194         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT, 

In  the  Yosemite  Valley— The  "  Loveliest  Panorama  Ever  Seen  " — 
Grant's  Little  Stories. 

One  of  the  principal  attractions  in  General  Grant's  Cal 
ifornia  visit  was  the  Yosemite  Yalley,  which  he  was  per 
mitted  to  see  in  all  its  glory.  The  scenery  and  incidents 
are  graphically  described  by  one  of  the  General's  compan 
ions,  as  follows: 

This  has  been  the  first  day  (Oct.  4,  1879)  in  Yosemite. 
The  General  came  to  breakfast  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller, 
leaving  Mrs.  Grant  to  follow,  which  she  did  a  little  later. 
The  sunlight  was  stealing  down  the  brown  face  of  Yosem 
ite  Rock,  the  Merced  was  murmuring  over  its  pebbles, 
and  the  trees  sighing  softly  just  outside  the  open  windows 
of  the  dining  room,  but  he  heeded  them  not.  He  was  too 
intent  on  half  a  dozen  mountain  trout,  which  made  the 
principal  portion  of  his  breakfast,  and  which,  with  green 
corn,  has  been  the  main  element  of  his  regimen  since  he 
arrived  in  California. 

Breakfast  finished,  the  General  discussed  his  traditional 
cigar  on  the  front  porch.  Pending  the  arrival  of  the  horses 
which  were  to  take  the  party  up  the  trail  to  Glacier  Point, 
Ulysses,  Jr.,  who  is  becoming  almost  as  much  addicted  to 
the  cigar  as  his  father,  shortened  a  fragrant  Havana.  Dur 
ing  the  delay  the  ladies  had  all  recovered  the  roses  which 
they  had  lost  in  the  long  stage  rides  coming  to  the  valley, 
and  were  picturesquely  distributed  along  the  front  of  the 
hotel.] 

It  shortly  appeared  that  the  General  would  not  be  ac 
companied  by  all  his  suite.  Mrs.  Grant  during  the  night 
had  heard  some  one  in  the  room  beneath  her  saying  that 
the  firing  of  the  giant-powder  cartridges  detached  the  rocks 
from  the  sides  of  the  valley,  and  wondering  that  they  would 
risk  so  dangerous  a  trip.  So  she  concluded  to  remain  be 
hind  with  Mrs.  Miller,  Miss  Flood  and  Mr.  Dent.  The 


AROUND  THE  WORLD. 

rest  of  the  company  and  half  *a  dozen  guides  made  ready 
for  the  ascent,  and  started  a  few  minutes  after  nine  o'clock. 
The  weather  was  pleasant,  but  warm. 

The  General  led  the  line,  with  Mr.  Clark  close  behind 
him,  as  best  understanding  the  region  and  being  the  proper 
person,  officially,  to  be  in  close  attendance.  The  trail  was 
in  shadow  during  the  ascent,  but  the  bright  sunlight  fall 
ing  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  valley  revealed  every  point, 
jutting  crag,  fissure,  and  crevice,  from  the  meadows  to  the 
summit,  and  outspread  the  green  valley  like  a  map  beneath 
the  feet  of  the  climbing  equestrians.  The  sharp  turns  of  the 
trail,  which  is  broad  and  as  safe  as  a  wagon-road,  brought 
to  view  now  the  upper  end  of  the  valley  and  now  the 
lower. 

The  General  declared  it  to  be  the  loveliest  panorama 
ever  spread  out  before  his  eyes.  He  asked  his  companion 
about  each  point,  dome,  and  canyon  as  it  passed  before  him 
in-  military  review.  He  lamented  the  dearth  of  water 
which  should  supply  the  great  Yosemite  Fall,  Nature 
having  been,  all  about,  so  lavish  of  her  gifts.  He  proved 
so  good  a  horseman  that  his  followers  could  scarcely  keep 
pace  with  him.  As  he  came  out  on  prominent  points  and 
halted  with  one  or  two  of  those  nearest  him  he  looked  like 
a  general  in  war  times,  inspecting  the  advance  of  the 
enemy,  his  staff  grouped  around  him. 

At  Agassiz  Column,  2,200  feet  above  the  valley,  the 
party  dismounted.  At  this  point  many  of  the  peaks  had 
diminished  in  height;  the  Cathedral  Towers  were  lost  in 
the  more  massive  forms  of  the  Three  Graces;  the  distance 
from  wall  to  wall  of  the  valley  had  grown  vaster,  and  the 
Merced  looked  like  a  narrow  ribbon  winding  through  the 
meadows.  The  walkers  took  seats  near"  the  edge  of  the 
cliffs,  which  went  sheer  down  1.500  feet.  The  General, 
more  venturesome  than  the  rest,  stepped  out  and  took  a 


196         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  G8ANT. 

look  at  the  valley  from  a  rock  which  projected  over  the 
precipice.  Young  Ulysses  dared  even  more.  He  mounted 
the  rock,  and,  standing  on  tip-toe,  like  Mercury  new  lighted, 
reached  up,  and  with  a  jack-knife  cut  a  large-sized  "  D  "  on 
the  trunk  of  a  whispering  pine,  which,  very  unadvisedlv, 
had  selected  that  dizzy  edge  as  a  place  of  residence.  After 
once  dropping  the  knife,  and  having  it  recovered  far  down 
the  face  of  the  cliff  by  the  combined  exertions  of  Guardian 
Clark  and  his  father,  he  resumed  his  lettering,  which  re 
sulted  in  two  neatly  chiseled  names,  that,  subjected  to  a 
powerful  glass,  looked  very  much  like  "  Dora"  and  u  Flora." 
There  was  a  third  which,  however  was  illegible.  The  young 
ladies  said  that  they  did  not  care  for  that  kind  of  immor 
tality,  but  their  protest  was  unavailing. 

General  Grant,  having  finished  his  survey  of  the  valley, 
pictorial  and  strategic,  unbent  and  became  talkative.  A 
dog  that  had  followed  him  up  the  trail  reminded  him  of 
other  dogs  that  he  had  seen  and  heard  of  in  war-times. 

An  order,  he  said,  had  once  been  issued  during  the  Re 
bellion  to  kill  all  the  bloodhounds  in  the  South,  because 
they  were  used  to  pursue  rebel  prisoners.  A  soldier,  in 
carrying  out  the  order,  found  a  poodle,  and  was  about  to 
make  him  a  victim  of  the  edict,  when  a  lady,  his  owner, 
remonstrated.  Said  the  soldier: 

"  We  are  ordered  to  kill  all  bloodhounds." 

"  But  he  is  not  a  bloodhound,"  pleaded  the  lady. 

"  That  may  be,"  returned  the  representative  of  military 
discipline,  "  but  in  such  times  as  these  no  one  can  tell 
what  he  may  grow  to." 

To  this  he  added  another  brief  tale  of  bravery.  Once, 
the  narrator  said,  he  was  going  from  Chicago  to  St.  Louis, 
over  the  Alton  Railroad.  The  cholera  was  raging  in  St. 
Louis,  and  hundreds  were  dying  daily.  The  car  in  which 
he  traveled  was  full,  and,  the  epidemic  coming  under  dis- 


198         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

cussion  among  the  passengers,  all  expressed  themselves  as 
fearless  of  the  disease,  and  made  remarks  like  these: 

"There  is  very  little  danger  of  taking  it;  in' fact,  no 
danger  at  all.  Those  who  take  it  usually  get  it  through 
fear." 

The  General  admired  the  courage  of  the  others,  and  re 
gretted  that  he  was  not  similarly  brave.  His  self-respect, 
however,  returned,  when,  having  passed  Alton,  he  found 
himself  and  another  passenger  the  sole  occupants  of  the 
car,  which  was  crowded  two  or  three  hours  before. 

After  the  stories,  a  cartridge  was  fired,  awaking  the 
echoes  for  the  entire  circuit  of  the  valley.  Then  girths 
were  tightened,  ladies  and  gentlemen  remounted,  and  left 
the  pine  to  its  whisperings  and  the  names  to  the  wasting 
of  the  elements.  The  General  led  the  way  to  the  top  of 
the  little  house,  near  Glacier  Point,  where  lunch  was  to  be 
prepared.  Without  waiting  for  it  the  party  pressed  on  to 
Sentinel  Dome,  1,000  feet  higher,  or  over  4,000  feet  above 
the  valley.  The  General  was  the  first  at  the  top. 

The  view  presents  the  widest  horizon  of  any  point  about 
the  valley.  There  can  be  seen,  close  at  hand,  El  Capitan, 
the  Three  Graces,  the  Three  Brothers,  the  Half  Dome, 
North  Dome,  and  Yosemite  Rock,  with  a  hundred  lesser 
peaks  in  the  distance.  On  one  side  clouds  rest,  and  all  the 
points  of  Mount  Diell  group  on  the  other  side.  Follow 
ing  the  course  of  the  Merced,  range  upon  range  of  moun 
tains,  which  dwindled  into  hills  and  blended  with  the  blue 
haze  that  filled  the  San  Joaquin  valley,  the  General  scanned 
every  object  of  interest  with  a  field-glass,  which  he  at  last 
handed  back  with  the  remark,  that  he  could  see  just  about 
as  well  with  the  naked  eye. 

He  sat  on  the  rocks,  but  did  not  converse  with  great 
freedom,  the  scenery  interesting  him  deeply.  Seeing  some 
patches  of  snow  on  Mount  Diell,  he  made  inquiries  about 


200         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

the  glaciers.  lie  strained  his  eyes  to  behold  Mount  Diablo 
and  the  Coast  Ilange,  which  possibly  might  have  been  vis 
ible  on  a  clearer  day.  Just  at  this  moment  there  came 
some  puffs  of  sea  breeze,  making  the  air  chilly. 

Again  all  remounted,  and,  picking  their  way  slowly 
down  from  the  rocky  height,  a  few  minutes  later  were  at 
Macauley's  Wayside  Inn,  where,  under  the  direction  of 
George  Lenn,  the  landlord,  lunch  was  nearly  ready.  Mean 
while  the  gentlemen  and  ladies  grouped  themselves  around 
the  General,  on  the  benches  of  the  back  porch,  which  com 
manded  a  splendid  prospect  of  Starr  King  Mountain, 
Mount  Diell  and  its  brethren,  and  in  the  middle  ground, 
far  below  the  spectator,  the  Nevada  and  Vernal  Falls,  thin 
but  lovely  sheets  of  water.  Not  much  could  have  been 
expected  in  a  culinary  way  at  this  great  height,  but  the 
lunch  was  one  of  the  best  spread  for  the  Grant  party  since 
leaving  San  Francisco.  In  its  way  it  was  lovelier  than  the 
scenery. 

The  viands  discussed,  the  General  disappeared,  and,  in 
quiry  being  made,  it  was  discovered  that  he  had  gone  to 
the  Point,  impatient  to  see  the  most  superb  view  of  the 
Yosemite  region.  Thence  can  be  seen  not  so  much  as  from 
Sentinel  Dome,  but  many  of  the  finest  rocks  and  points  in 
the  most  picturesque  attitudes,  the  upper  and  most  fertile 
portion  of  the  valley,  as  far  below  as  the  orchards,  looking 
like  squares  on  a  checker-board,  the  apple  trees  like  huckle 
berry  bushes.  Beyond,  to  the  horizon,  expands  the  broad, 
white  waste  of  the  high  Sierras.  Here  there  were  more 
explosives  to  awaken  specimen  echoes.  The  reverberations 
made  the  round  of  the  near  peaks  of  the  valley,  were  tossed 
grandly  from  one  to  another,  then  passed  to  the  distant 
mountains,  growing  fainter,  and  dying  away  at  last  in  the 
region  of  everlasting  snows. 

The  usual  experiment  of  throwing  bottles  over  the  preci- 


AROUND  THE  WORLD. 

pice  was  tried  to  guage  the  height  by  the  time  occupied  in 
falling.  The  General  tried  his  hand  at  throwing,  also 
young  Ulysses,  who  showed  great  strength  of  arm.  After 
further  diversions  at  this  point,  the  General  was  in  good 
humor,  and  rallied  the  young  ladies,  asking  them  if  they 
were  not  glad  he  had  brought  them. 

The  descent  was  made  in  two  hours,  the  General  leading, 
gaining  half  a  mile  in  the  whole  distance.  There  was  a  fine 
succession  of  views  descending,  varied  from  those  of  the 
morning  by  the  different  position  of  the  sun.  The  west 
wall  of  the  valley  was  in  shadow,  which  grew  deeper  as  the 
afternoon  advanced:  the  atmosphere  was  agreeable;  a  blue 
haze  filled  the  space  within  the  hills,  softening  the  outline 
of  the  rocks,  and  giving  their  huge  forms  beauty  and 
grandeur.  Arriving  at  the  level  of  the  valley  a  few  min 
utes  after  4  o'clock,  there  was  a  general  scattering  to  hotels. 
The  ascent  had  been  so  easy  that  there  had  been  little  fa 
tigue,  and  there  was  little  complaint  of  dust.  Shortly  after 
reaching  the  Bernard  House  the  General  resumed  his  cigar 
as  if  nothing  had  happened. 


Down  in  the  Mines  at  Virginia  City. 

General  Grant's  travels  are  of  the  most  varied  character. 
At  one  time  we  find  him  all  alone,  as  was  the  case  in  Jeru 
salem,  in  the  dawn,  walking  down  the  narrow  street  through 
which  the  Son  of  God  is  said  to  have  carried  the  Cross; 
and  soon  after,  in  China,  he  is  in  the  midst  of  a  multitude 
estimated  at  200,000  souls.  A  few  days  before  reaching 
Virginia  City  he  is  on  the  summits  of  the  great  mountains, 
and  here  we  find  him  thousands  of  feet  down  under  the 
ground.  His  descent  and  amusing  experience  is  described 
by  a  friend  as  follows: 


202         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

When  the  General  appeared  outside  in  the  miners  suit, 
with  his  pants  tucked  in  his  stocking  tops,  and  with  the 
oldest  slouched  hat  in  the  building  on  his  head,  the  party 
greeted  him  with  ';  bravos  "  and  a  hearty  laugh,  and  Grant, 
looking  with  amused  astonishment  at  himself,  declared  he 
was  ready  for  Flannigan's  ball. 

When  the  ladies  appeared  in  men's  suits  the  laughter 
was  turned  upon  them.  Mrs.  Fair  had  been  down  before, 
and  Governor  Kinkead  declared  significantly  that  we  all 
knew  the  reason  why,  for  in  her  jaunty  sailor's  suit  she 
made  a  pretty  picture.  The  General  saw  the  point,  and 
stepping  up,  oigar  in  hand,  he  said:  "I  want  to  offer  this 
young  gentleman  a  cigar."  Who  has  said  that  Grant  is 
reserved  and  silent? 

On  the  summit  of  the  Sierras,  and  sailing  over  the  blue 
depths  of  Tahoe,  he  was  always  appreciative,  and  asking 
all  sorts  of  questions,  and  to-day,  in  his  miner's  suit,  and 
when  sure  he  had  escaped  curious  crowds,  2,100  feet  under 
the  ground,  he  was  chatty  as  a  boy,  and  with  a  dry  humor 
which  did  not  need  Grant  behind  it  to  make  it  good. 

He  had  been  very  sure  that  Mrs.  Grant  would  not  go 
down  the  mine,  until  finally  Mackey  offered  to  bet  §1,000 
that  she  would  go.  In  the  same  joking  way  the  bet  was 
taken  by  the  General,  but  he  did  not  have  the  money.  It 
would  be  useless  to  apply  to  a  newspaper  man  for  money, 
he  said,  and  no  one  else  would  loan  it  to  him;  so,  offering 
some  old  Japanese  coins  for  security,  we  started  down.  But 
Mrs.  Grant  did  go;  and,  descending  swiftly  in  the  iron 
cage,  we  cornmisserated  the  General  on  his  loss. 

"Well,"  he  said,  "a  thousand  dollars  is  a  good  deal  of 
money  to  lose,  but  I  guess  it  will  stop  Mrs.  Grant's  shop 
ping  awhile,  and  it  is  the  first  bet  I  ever  heard  of  where 
both  sides  were  winners." 

Down  we  glide  as  smoothly  as  in  one  of  your  hotel  ele- 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  203 

vators,  to  the  first  level,  1,800  feet  below.  Here  we  leave 
our  overcoats,  which  we  had  put  on  for  the  cold  ride  down 
the  shaft.  As  the  General  starts  off  he  calls  back  to  his 
son: 

"Bud,  bring  some  cigars." 

"  You  can  not  smoke  here,"  says  Mrs.  Grant. 

"Well,  I'll  try,"  answers  the  General,  in  so  emphatic  a 
tone  that  some  one  raises  a  laugh  by  adding,  "  if  it  takes 
all  summer." 

Through  subterranean  and  devious  paths  we  follow  Mr. 
Hugh  Lamb,  the  obliging  foreman.  We  examine  the  vast 
bodies  of  ore  which  we  encounter,  and  General  Grant 
splashes  through  the  water,  knocks  pieces  of  ore  off  with 
a  pick,  and  is  full  of  curious  questions  about  the  cost  of 
mining  and  milling,  the  character  of  the  rock,  the  yield 
per  month,  etc.,  etc.  We  are  getting  so  far  down  now  that 
the  natural  heat  of  the  earth  is  becoming  unpleasant,  arid 
Mrs.  Grant,  who  does  not  seem  to  enjoy  it,  says: 

"  Oh,  why  can't  we  have  something  else  for  money,  arid 
save  all  this  work  and  trouble." 

''Because  then  it  would  have  to  be  paper  money,"  an 
swered  the  General. 

Mrs.  Grant  wants  to  go  back  to  the  surface,  but  the  Gen 
eral  says  she  must  not  put  them  to  that  trouble,  and.  as  all 
good  wives  should,  she  yields,  and  we  leave  the  ladies  in 
the  cleanest  place  we  can  find,  and  go  on  down.  We  are 
soon  where  the  thermometer  marks  95  degrees  Fahrenheit, 
and  the  sweat  pours  off  us.  We  examine  the  immense 
system  of  timbering,  and  learn  that  it  has  required  over 
$2,000,000  to  put  this  gigantic  mine  of  #old  in  shape  for 
work.  We  examine  the  pumps,  and  the  steam  drills  with 
their  noisy  clatter  are  stopped  and  run  so  that  the  General 
may  see  how  they  work.  Mr.  Mackey,  who  has  been 
through  this  many  times,  says  it  is  not  warm,  but  the  rest 


204        STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

of  us  sweat  and  gasp.  The  General  is  delighted  with  the 
"good  sweat"  he  is  having,  and  getting  the  attention  of 
the  crowd,  he  says  to  Mr.  Fair:  "There  are  two  newspa 
per  men  here  and  plenty  near  at  hand.  Find  the  hottest 
place  you  can  and  let  us  leave  them  there."  The  newspaper 
men  say  never  a  word.  Again  we  take  the  cage,  where  it 
seems  cold  as  a  winter's  day,  and  down  two  hundred  feet 
deeper  into  the  earth  we  go.  Here  it  is  120  Fahrenheit. 
Workmen,  bare  to  the  waist,  come  forward,  saying: 

"  General,  we  have  got  you  here  and  you  will  have  to 
shake." 

"  I  like  to  shake  a  healthy  man's  hand,"  the  General  says, 
as  he  looks  at  their  splendid  muscular  development. 

The  water  corning  from  the  earth  here  is  so  warm  that 
you  can  not  bear  your  hand  in  it,  and  men  can  only  work  a 
few  minutes  when  they  are  cooled  off  with  ice. 

The  General  thinks  it  would  be  a  good  plan  to  sentence 
convicts  to  work  eight  hours  a  day  down  here.  "  Any 
how,"  he  says,  red  in  the  face  from  heat,  and  wiping  his 
face,  "  this  is  the  place  to  leave  the  newspaper  men." 

"  Would  you  not  leave  the  politicians,  too?"  asked  Gov 
ernor  Kinkead. 

"Yes,  but  there  ain't  room  for  all  that  ought  to  be  put 
here,"  the  General  replies,  without  a  smile,  and  maybe  he 
meant  it.  But  we  can  not  stay  here,  it  is  too  warm,  and 
so  we  make  our  way  safely  to  the  upper  and  cooler  regions. 


A    Speech    of    Gen.    Grant   over    2000    Miles    Long — From    San 
Francisco  to  Galena— What  He  Said. 

Iii  passing  from  San  Francisco  to  Galena  General  Grant 
was  everywhere  most  cordially  welcomed  home.  Such  an 
ovation  has  never  been  witnessed  before  in  the  western 
country.  The  General's  remarks,  at  the  numerous  towns 


AEOUND  THE  WORLD.  205 

and  stations  on  the  way,  were  most  felicitous,  and  invari 
ably  called  out  the  ringing  cheers  of  the  multitude.  We 
give  a  number  of  the  principal  speeches  by  the  way  : 

Farewell  to  San  Francisco. 

GENTLEMEN  OF  SAN  FKANCISCO  :  The  unbounded  hospitality  and  cordi 
ality  I  have  received  since  I  first  put  my  foot  on  the  soil  of  California  has 
taken  deep  root  in  my  heart.  It  was  more  than  I  could  have  expected, 
and  while  it  has  entailed  some  little  fatigue  at  times,  I  assure  you.  I  have 
only  been  gratified  for  it.  I  have  previously  been  in  California  and  on 
the  Pacific  coast,  but  have  been  away  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  when 
I  landed  here  the  last  time  I  found  that  none  of  the  pioneers  had  grown 
old,  but  if  I  should  remain  another  quarter  century  I  might  be  compelled 
to  confess  that  none  of  you  had  grown  old  [applause]  and  I  want  to  see 
you  again  in  your  prime  and  youth.  Gentlemen,  in  taking  ray  departure 
I  want  to  thank  you  all  for  the  farewell  reception  given  me  this  evening, 
and  to  express  the  hope  that  whether  or  not  I  am  to  have  the  happiness 
ever  to  visit  your  city  again,  I  shall  at  least  meet  one  and  all  of  you 
elsewhere,  and  if  it  should  not  be  in  this  life  that  it  may  be  in  the  better 

country. 

At  Sacramento. 

Of  all  the  hospitality  bestowed,  all  the  honor  conferred,  there  has  been 
nothing  so  grateful  to  my  heart  as  the  receptions  I  have  received  at  the 
hands  of  the  people  here.  I  would  not  say  what  has  been  done  abroad.  It 
has  been  all  that  could  be  done  to  mortal,  but  it  has  not  been  done  for 
me.  It  has  been  done  for  the  people  whom  I  see  before  me, — for  the 
people  of  a  great  country  that  is  recognized  abroad  as  one  of  the  greatest 
countries  in  the  world.  If  we  all — every  one  of  us — could  see  other 
countries,  as  I  have  seen  them,  we  would  all  make  better  citizens,  or,  at 
least,  the  average  of  our  citizens  would  be  better. 
At  Fremont. 

GENTLEMEN  : — I  am  very  glad  to  see  you,  but  your  towns  in  Nebraska 
are  too  thick  for  me  '  to  talk  at  every  place  the  train  stops.  They  are 
springing  up  here  so  rapidly  that  I  scarcely  know  the  country  in  passing 
through,  although  I  have  been  out  here  three  times  before.  This  is  my 
fourth  trip. 


206         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  OEN.  GRANT. 

"  A  good  many  years  since  I  saw  you,  General,"  tang  out  an  old  farmer 
in  the  crowd.  "  I  was  with  you  in  Mexico." 

"That  was  a  longtime  ago,  my  friend,"  responded  Grant,  "but  we 
are  young  men  yet." 

"  I  am  over  70,"  said  the  farmer,  as  if  doubting  that  proposition. 

"  I  am  in  the  fifties  yet,"  responded  Grant,  pleasantly. 
At   Omaha. 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  OP  NEBRASKA  AND  OF  OMAHA  :— It  would 
be  impossible  for  me  to  make  any  number  of  you  hear  a  word  if  I  had 
anything  very  special  to  say.  It  is  cold  and  windy,  and  there  are  multi 
tudes  waiting,  and  I  will  only  s&y  a  few  words,  and  that  to  express  the 
gratification  I  feel  at  meeting  you  all  here  to-day.  I  state  to  you  in 
addition  how  glad  I  am  to  get  back  once  more  upon  American  soil. 
Wherever  I  have  been  in  all  my  travels  in  the  last  two  and  a  half  years, 
I  have  found  our  country  most  highly  spoken  of,  and  I  have  been,  as  a 
sort  of  representative  of  the  country,  most  elegantly  entertained.  For 
the  many  kindnesses  that  I  have  received  at  the  hands  of  foreign  nation? 
and  foreign  Princes,  I  feel  gratified  myself,  and  I  know  that  all  of  you 
do.  The  welcome  given  to  me  there  has  been  a  welcome  to  this  grand 
Republic,  of  which  you  are  all  equal  representatives  with  myself.  As 
I  have  had  occasion  to  say  several  times  before,  since  my  arrival  in  San 
Francisco,  we  stand  well  abroad,  infinitely  better  than  we  did  twenty 
years  ago,  as  a  nation  and  as  a  people ;  and  as  a  result  of  that  to-day  the 
credit  of  the  United  States  in  the  European  market  is  higher  than  that 
of  any  country  in  the  world.  We  are  there  more  highly  appreciated 
than  we  appreciate  oui selves.  [Applause  and  laughter.]  Gentlemen,  I 
say  again  that  am  Kighly  gratified  at  meeting  you  here  to-day,  and 
thank  you  [Applause  and  cheers.] 

At  Burlington. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  SCHOOL  BOARD  AND  SCHOLARS  OF  THE  CITY  OF 
BURLINGTON  :— It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  meet  you  and  see  five  thou 
sand  or  more  of  the  school  children  of  the  City  of  Burlington,  and  I 
think  if  there  ever  is  another  war  in  this  country  it  will  be  one  of  ig 
norance  versus  intelligence,  and  in  that  battle  the  State  of  Iowa  will 


AROUND  THE  WORLD.  207 

achieve  a  great  victory.  Furthermore,  I  think  that  war  will  be  one  of 
ignorance  and  superstition  combined  against  education  and  intelligence, 
and  I  am  satisfied  that  the  children  here  will  enroll  in  the  army  of 
intelligence  and  wipe  out  the  common  enemy,  ignorance.  I  thank  you 
for  your  kind  attention. 

At  Galesburg. 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  : — It  would  be  impossible  to  make  myself 
heard  by  all  of  you,  or  a  large  portion  of  you,  even  if  I  was  in  the 
habit  of  public  speaking.  I  will  do  no  more,  therefore,  than  thank 
you  for  turning  out  at  this  time  of  night  to  welcome  me  on  my  way  to 
my  home,  and  I  will  say  to  you  that  in  the  two  and  a  half  years  that  I 
have  been  away  from  you  I  have  had  a  very  pleasant  time.  I  have  seen 
a  great  many  pleasant  people,  and  I  have  been  very  well  received  at 
every  place  I  have  been  as  a  mark  of  respect  and  honor  to  the  great 
country  which  you  helped  to  make  up,  but  as  I  have  had  frequent  occa 
sion  to  say  since  my  return  to  my  own  country,  I  appreciate  the  welcome 
which  I  receive  from  the  sovereigns  of  my  own  country  above  all  other 
receptions  that  they  gave  us  elsewhere.  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
the  people  of  Galesburg  but  on  one  other  occasion.  I  passed  through 
in  1868,  when  I  thought  all  the  people  in  the  city  were  about  this  spot 
I  am  very  glad  to  see  you  all  again  to-night.  (Applause  and  cheers  * 

At  Home. 

MR.  MAYOR,  AND  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  OF  GALENA: — It  is  with 
extreme  embarrassment  that  I  stand  here  to-day  to  receive  the  welcome 
which  you  are  according  me.  It  is  gratifying,  but  it  is  difficult  for  me 
to  respond  to  what  I  have  just  heard  and  to  what  I  see,  properly,  I  can 
say  that  since  I  have  left  here,  more  than  eighteen  years  ago,  it  has  al 
ways  been  a  matter  of  pleasure  to  me  to  be  able  to  return  again  to  Galena. 
[Applause.]  Now,  after  an  absence  of  two  and  a  half  years  from  this 
city,  having  been  in  almost  every  country  north  of  the  equator,  it  is  with 
special  pleasure  that  I  return  here  again  to  be  greeted  by  the  citizens  of 
this  city,  Jo  Daviess  County,  and  the  surrounding  country.  In  my 
travels  abroad,  as  has  been  alluded  to  by  the  speaker  who  has  just  sat 
down.  I  have  received  princely  honors,  but  they  have  been  honors  due 


206         STORIES  AND  SKETCHES  OF  GEN.  GRANT. 

to  my  country,  and  due  to  you  as  citizens  and  sovereigns  of  our  great 
country.  [Cheers.]  It  but  requires  a  person  to  travel  abroad,  and  to  get 
an  insight  of  life  in  all  of  the  foreign  countries,  to  appreciate  how  happy 
we  ought  to  be  with  the  country  we  have  here.  It  makes  better  Ameri 
cans  of  us  all  to  see  the  struggling  there  is,  particularly  in  the  Far  East, 
to  gain  what  would  be  a  starving  support  in  our  own  country.  It  should 
be  a  gratification  to  us  to  feel  that  we  are  citizens  of  this  country,  where 
want  is  scarcely  known,  and  where  the  question  of  subsistence  is  not 
one  we  think  of  now.  Fellow-citizens  I  renew  to  you  my  thanks  for  your 
presence  and  for  the  welcome  which  I  have  received  at  your  hands.  [Pro 
longed  applause  and  cheers.] 

After  making  the  circuit  of  the  globe,  we  now  take 
our  leave  of  the  great  General,  at  his  home,  with  the  bend 
ing  skies  above  as  his  real  and  perpetual  arch  of  triumph. 


ARCH  «E  TRIUMPH,   PARI? 


THE 


.A. 


THAT    ENABLES 


TO  HEAR  THROUGH  THE  MEDIUM  OF  THE  TEETH,  AND 
THE  DEAF  AND  DUMB  TO  HEAR  AND 

LEARN  TO  SPEAK.  ' 


RICHARD  S.  RHODES. 

CHICAGO 


Sold  Only  by 

RHODES    &    McCLURE, 

Methodist  Church  Block,  Chicago. 

1879. 


THE  AUDIPHONE! 


Conversational  Audiphone. 
Opera  " 


15.OO 


SENT  BY  MAIL  OR  EXPRESS  TO  ANY   PART   OF  THE   WORLD   ON 
RECEIPT  OF  PRICE. 

ADDRESS 

RHODES  &  McCLURE,  Methodist  Church  Block, 


L.  S.   RHODES. 


J.  B.  McCLURE. 


CONTEXTS. 


PAGE. 

•  The  Audiphone...... 3 

The  Deaf  and  Dumb  can  Hear  and  Spark    4 

Directions  for  Use . 4 

A  Word  for  the  Very  Dea q 

Firmly  Fitting  False  Teeth  All  Right.     5 

Lay  Aside  the  Ear  Trumpets 

To  Learn  jo  Speak 

Ope 

Hon 

H.  Mc^eely's  Testimony S 

From'the  Chicago  Tribune 9 

Inter-Ocean ._ 10 

Chicago    fimes  — T? 

Faderneslandet .-  i.\ 


a  or  Concert  Audiphone 7 


Joseph  Medill's  Testimony. 7 


Die  Deutsche  Warte 15 

Drovers' Journal .. i5 

Interior 16 

Advance ift 

Standard _ 17 

N.  W.  C.  Advocate 17 

Alliance 18 

Living  Church 18 

11          Herald  and  Presbyter IQ 

44         Evening  Wisconsin 19 

From  Prof.  Fay,   in  the  Annals  of  the 

Deaf  and   Dumb 20 

Additional  Testim  uy_ 


PACK 

From  the  Watchman --  2 

11          Lawrence  Tcurnal 2 

Personal  Commendations 2 

E.  F.  Test  to  Hon.   Jusenh  M.-dill 2 


E.  F.  Test  to  Rhodes*  McCiure 

From  Bishop  Cl.irkuon 

A  Voung  Lioy 

kk       John  Atkinson. .. 


W.  W.  Evans 

Henry  Milnes 

S.  H.  \Veller,  P.O.    

E.  C.Ely -. 

11.  H.  Mulford,  Esq. 

G.  H.  Paine... 


Interviews  with  the  Deaf  a   d  Dumb 
Chas.  P.  Day 
Alexander  .Meisel-.. 


L.  M.  Larson _ 

Alva  Jeffords 

Samuel  V.  Wood 

P.-.tented  Throughout  the  World 

How  to  Procure  an  Audiphone 

The  Price  of  the  Audiphone    

Now  *nd   Popular  Books   Published  by 

Rhodes*  McCiure ^7 

Rhodes  A:  McClure's  Star  Guide 

- 29.  3^ 


THE  AUDIPHONE, 


GOOD  NEWS  FOR  THE  DEAF. 


An  Instrument  that  Enables  Deaf  Persons  to  Hear  Ordinary  Con 
versation  Readily  Through  the  Medium  of  the  Teeth,  and 
those  Born  Deaf  and  Dumb    to  Hear  and  Learn 
to  Speak.      How  it  is  Done,  Etc. 


The  Audiphone  is  a  new  instrument  made  of  a  peculiar 
composition,  possessing  the  property  of  gathering  the  faint 
est  sounds  (somewhat  similar  to  a  telephone  diaphragm), 
and  conveying  them  to  the  auditory  nerve,  through  the 
medium  of  the  teeth.  The  external  ear  has  nothing  what 
ever  to  do  in  hearing  with  this  wonderful  instrument. 

It  is  made  in  the  shape  of  a  fan,  and  can  bemused  as  such, 
if  desired.  (See  fig.  1,  page  4.) 

When  adjusted  for  hearing,  it  is  in  suitable  tension  and 
the  upper  edge  is  pressed  slightly  against  one  or  more  of 
the  upper  teeth.  (See  figs.  2  and  3,  pp.  4  and  5.) 

Ordinary  conversation  can  be  heard  with  ease.  In  most 
cases  deafness  is  not  detected,  it  being  generally  supposed, 
as  is  the  experience  of  the  inventor,  that  the  party  deaf,  is 
simply  amusing  himself  with  the  fan. 

The  instrument  also  greatly  facilitates  conversation  by 
softening  the  voice  of  the  person  using  it,  enabling — even 
in  cases  of  mutes — the  deaf  party  to  hear  his  own  words 
distinctly. 


4  THE   AUDI  PHONE 

Those  Born  Deaf  can  Hear,  and  the  Dumb  are  enabled  to  Learn 
.     to  Speak. 

Mutes,  by  using  the  Audiphone  according  to  the  direc 
tions  on  page  6,  can  hear  their  own  voice  and  readily  learn 
to  speak. 


DIRECTIONS  FOE  USE. 

Fig.  1  represents  the  natural  position 
of  the  Audiphone,  in  which  position 
it  is  carried  (by  gentlemen)  by  attach 
ing  it  by  means  of  a  hook  or  button  to 
the  vest  or  inside  of  the  coat,  where 
it  will  be  convenient  for  .use  and  fully 
concealed.  The  shape  and  flexibility  of 
the  disc  render  the  Audiphone  an  excellent 


Fig.  i.  The  Audiphone 
in  its  natural  position; 
used  as  a  fan. 


Fig.  2  represents  the  Audiphone  in  ten 
sion  and  ready  for  hearing.  It  is  put  in  this 
position  by  means  of  the  silken  cords  which 
are  attached  to  the  disc,  and  which  pass 
down  as  a  single  cord  under  the  "  wedge  " 
in  the  handle.  By  opening  the  wedge  (as 
seen  in  Fig.  3)  the  cord,  which  now  moves 
freely,  should  be  drawn  down  until  the  disc 
is  brought  to  the  proper  tension  (as  seen  in 
Fig.  2.  The  Audiphone  Y\s.  2)  when  the  wedge  is  closed  and  the  in- 

in  tension  ;    the  proper  &         ' 

postion  for  hearing.  strument  IB  held  in  the  position  required. 
Experience  will  regulate  the  exact  tension  needed  for  each 
person,  and  also  the  tension  necessary  for  different  voices, 
music,  distant  speaking,  etc.  In  this  respect  the  Audiphone 
is  adjusted  to  suit  sound  as  an  opera  glass  is  adjusted  to 
suit  distance. 


Fig.  3.  The  Audiphonte  .       -r-,.         .-. 

properly  adjusted  to  the     SCCU  1U  Fig.   2 
upper  teeth ;   ready  for 
use.    (Side  view.) 


FOR   THE   DEAF.  5 

Fig.  3  represents  the  position  in  which 
the  Audiphone  should  be  held  for  hearing. 
It  should  be  held  loosely  in  the  hand  and  its 
upper  edge  should  be  placed  in  easy  contact, 
by  a  slight  pressure,  against  one  or  more 
of  the  upper  teeth,  that  are  the  most  con 
venient.  In  many  instances  tlie  "  eye  teeth  " 
give  the  best  results,  but  a  little  practice 
will  soon  determine  the  best  for  hearing. 
The  lower  teeth  should  not  come  in  contact 
with  the  Audiphone,  nor  should  the 
Audiphone  be  pressed  beyond  the  point 
of  tension  at  which  it  has  been  adjusted,  as 


NOTE. 

A  Word  Concerning  the   Very   Deaf—  False   Teeth—  And  those 
Using  Ear  Trumpets. 


Persons  who  have  been  very  deaf  for  many  years, 
who  are  accustomed,  wholly  or  in  part,  to  interpret 
sound  by  the  movement  of  the  lips  of  the  party  speak 
ing,  may  not  readily  distinguish  the  words  of  the  speaker 
when  first  using  the  audiphone,  though  the  sound  of 
these  words  will  be  distinctly  heard.  In  all  such  cases  a 
little  practice  will  be  required  to  enable  a  deaf  party  to  rely 
wholly  upon  sound.  Such  persons  should  request  a  friend 
to  read  aloud  while  they  (the  listener)  should  carefully  ob 
serve  the  words  (as  spoken)  in  a  duplicate  book  or  paper. 
When  this  is  properly  done  the  deaf  person  will  be  sur 
prised  with  what  distinctness  every  word  is  heard  by  the 
use  of  the  audiphone.  In  this  way  they  educate  themselves 


6  THE  AUDIPHONE 

to  articulate  sounds,  and  soon  learn  to  hear  well  without 
observing  the  movements  of  the  lips. 

Persons  having  false  teeth,  if  they  fit  firmly,  can,  not 
withstanding,  use  the  Audi  phone  successfully. 

It  should  be  further  noted,  that  persons  using  such  in 
struments  as  ear  trumpets,  etc.,  which  in  all  cases  increase 
the  deafness  by  concentrating  an  unnatural  force  and 
volume  of  sound  upon  the  impaired  organ,  should  at  once 
lay  aside  all  such  devices  on  receiving  the  Audiphone. 
Such  persons,  thus  accustomed  to  the  unnatural  sound, 
through  the  ear  trumpet,  will  require  some  practice  to  again 
familiarize  themselves  with  the  natural  sound  of  the  human 
voice  which,  the  Audiphone  always  conveys. 


TO  LEAKN  TO  SPEAK. 

Mutes  will  learn  to  speak  by  holding  the  Audiphone 
against  the  teeth,  as  above  directed,  and  practice  speaking 
while  it  is  in  this  position. 

A  good  exercise  is  for  the  mute,  at  first,  to  put  one  hand 
on  the  instructor's  throat,  watch  the  motion  of  his  lips, 
while  his  other  hand  is  on  his  own  throat,  the  instructor 
meantime  holding  the  Audiphone  to  the  mute's  teeth.  The 
mute  will  feel  the  influence  of  the  sound  on  his  hand  in 
the  instructor's  throat,  imitate  it  in  his  own  throat,  will 
hear  the  speaker's  voice  on  the  Audiphone  and  will  be  aided 
in  imitating  the  speaker  by  seeing  his  lips,  and  will  also 
hear  his  own  voice  on  the  Audiphone^  and  readily  learn  to 
speak. 

It  is  remarkable  how  rapidly  they  learn  to  distinguish 
words  by  sound.  In  a  very  short  time,  they  have  learned 
to  repeat  whole  sentences  spoken  to  them  while  blindfolded. 
It  is  believed  that  every  mute  child  may  hear  and  learn  to 
speak  by  using  the  Audiphone. 


FOR   THE   DEAF. 

OPERA  OR  CONCERT  AUDIPIIONE. 

An  Instrument  of  nearly  Double  Power,  for  Concerts,  Lectures, 
Sermons,  Operas,  etc.     Also  well  Adapted  for  Mutes. 

The  Opera  or  Concert  Audiphone  consists  of  two  discs, 
each  about  the  shape  of  the  Conversational,  as  shown  in 
Fig.  1,  page  4  (with  one  disc  a  little  larger  than  the 
other)  fitted  into  the  same  base,  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
apart  and  separated  at  the  upper  edges  the  same  distance, 
sufficiently  to  be  evenly  adjusted  to  different  teeth,  so  that 
each  disc  may  act  independently  of  the  other,  and  present 
ing  in  all  respects  (except  the  handle)  the  appearance  of  a 
double  Conversational  Audiphone.  The  upper  edge  of 
each  disc  is  set  against  different  teeth,  thus  giving  the  vi 
bration  of  a  whole  disc  to  each  tooth  and  thereby  almost 
doubling  the  power,  and  enabling  the  deaf  person  to  hear 
music,  sermons,  lectures,  concerts,  theatres,  operas  and 
public  speaking  generally,  at  a  greater  distance. 

The  Opera  or  Concert  Audiphone  is  the  best  adapted  for 
mutes,  not  only  because  the  sound  received  is  of  greater 
volume  and  more  distinct,  but  also  the  voice  of  the  mute 
when  spoken  between  the  discs  is  very  considerably  in 
tensified,  and  therefore  the  more  distinctly  heard  by  himself. 


FROM  THE  HON.  JOSEPH  MEDILL. 

IN  THE    CHICAGO   TRIBUNE. 

(Date,  August  26, 1879.) 

"  It  is  known  that  the  editor  of  this  paper  has  been  deaf 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  that  during  that  time  he  has 
used  all  the  devices  for  improving  his  hearing  that  he  could 
hear  of  or  that  were  brought  to  him.  None  of  them  were, 
however,  satisfactory.  He  has  tried  the  audiphone  for  some 
weeks,  and  finds  that  it  not  only  improves  his  hearing 


8  THE  AUDIPHONE 

BUT   RESTORES   THE    SENSE 

of  hearing  to  him.  Not  merely  does  it  answer  when  en 
gaged  in  conversation  with  a  person  who  is  a  foot,  or  a  few 
feet,  from  him,  but  it  answers  perfectly  at  a  concert.  Each 
note  of  the  musician  and  each  tone  of  the  singer  come  as 
clearly  and  distinctly  as  they  did  before  the  sense  of  hearing 
was  impaired.  Others  have  also  tested  this  instrument,  and 
have  expressed  themselves  satisfied  with  its  working." 


FROM  JOHN  H.  McNEELY  TO  A.  T.  HODGE. 

(One  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Evansville  [Indiana]  Daily  Journal.) 

{OFFICE  OF  EVANSVILLE  JOURNAL  Co., 
EVANSVILLE,  Ind.,  Sept.  25,  1879. 

Mr.  A.  T.  HODGE, 

Firm  of  Clarke,  Friend,  Fox  &  Co.,  Chicago. 

Dear  Friend: — I  got  back  this  morning  all* right,  and 
want  to  tell  you  about  the  "Audiphone."  Our  City  Editor, 
Mr.  Allison,  tried  it,  and  pronounces  it  the  thing.  jSay  to 
Mr.  Rhodes  that  he  hears  the  very  lowest  tone  of  voice, 
and  says  it  is  the  only  thing  of  the  kind  he  ever  saw  that 
would  enable  him  to  hear.  He  is  very  proud  of  it,  and 
sends  his  thanks. 

Mr.  G.  "W.  Shanklin,  Managing  Editor  of  the  Courier, 
was  in  this  afternoon.  He  is,  if  anything,  more  deaf  than 
Mr.  Rhodes,  and  as  soon  as  he  tried  it  he  said  he  heard  tbe 
conversation  of  all  in  the  room.  I  thought  he  put  it  in  his 
mouth  too  far,  but  when  he  placed  it  against  his  eye  teeth 
he  complained  that  the  sound  w'as  like  a  cannon  and  he 
could  not  stand  it. 

Respectfullv,  JOHN  H. 


FOR  THE  DEAF.  9 

TESTIMONY  FROM  THE  CHICAGO  TRIBUNE. 

(Date  Sept.  4,  1879.) 
The  Audiphone— A  Most  Satisfactory  Test. 

"  In  the  parlors  of  the  First  Methodist  Church  yesterday 
afternoon,  Mr.  R.  S.  Rhodes,  the  inventor  of  the  audiphone, 
submitted  his  instrument  to  some  severe  and  very  interesting 
tests,  in  the  presence  of  a  number  of  people,  including  Mr. 
G.  C.  Tallerday,  of  the  Medical  Times,  Dr.  T.  W.  Bvophy, 
Prof. '  Swing,  Mr.  L.  M.  Stone,  and  Mr.  Gray,  of  the 
Interior. 

Already  The  Tribune  has  contained  a  brief  account  ot 
this  wonderful  invention,  and  the  interest  it  has  awakened 
among  deaf  people  is  but  a  revival  of  that  over  the  an 
nouncement  made  a  year  or  so  ago  by  Edison  when  he  de 
clared  himself  the  discoverer  of  an  appliance  by  which  the 
man  or  woman  whose  ears  were  utterly  useless  should  be 
able  to  hear,  not  only  ordinary  conversation,  but  should  be 
able  to  appreciate  the  pleasures  of  music.  When  Edison 
failed  to  fulfill  his  promises,  people  generally,  and  many 
medical  men,  too,  scouted  the  idea  of  ever  being  able  to 
reach  the  point  which  the  inventor  of  the  quadruplex  tele 
graph  thought  he  had  reached;  but  Mr.  Rhodes,  a  deaf  man 
himself,  when  the  telephonic  diaphragm  appeared,  caught  a 
suggestion  from  it,  and  the  result  was  his  audiphone. 

It  is  in  shape  like  a  square  Japanese  fan,  and  is  made  of 
a  composition  the  major  portion  of  which  is  vulcanite.  At 
the  back  of  this  thing  there  is  a  cord,  stretching  from  the 
upper  edge  to  the  handle.  By  means  of  this  cord  the  in 
strument  is  tuned  like  a  violin,  and  the  tension  is  regulated 
according  to  the  distance  the  sound  has  to  travel.  The 
upper  edge  of  this  audiphone  is  placed  against  the  two 
upper  teeth,  and  the  vibrations  received  on  its  surface  are 
conveyed  by  the  medium  of  the  teeth,  and  the  nerves  of  the 
teeth  to  the  acoustic  nerves,  and  produce  upon  them  an  action 


10  THE  AUDIPHONE 

similar  to  the  action  produced  by  sound  upon  the  drum  ot 
the  ear. 

In  addition  to  experiments  made  yesterday  with  people 
who  were  not  completely  devoid  of  hearing,  two  boys  were 
made  to  hear  the  human  voice  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives. 
One,  17  years  of  age,  was  deaf  and  dumb,  while  the  other 
was  about  15,  and,  although  he  could  speak,  he  was  perfectly 
deaf.  At  first  the  sounds  were  strange  to  them,  but  after 
a  little  they  signified  that  they  could  hear  them  distinctly, 
and  understand  perfectly  that  they  were  sounds.  Of  course, 
in  order  that  they  may  comprehend  what  the  meaning  of 
the  words  spoken  is  they  will  have  to  be  taught. 

Medical  men  and  others  were  charmed  with  the  experi 
ments,  they  admired  the  simplicity  of  the  invention,  and 
there  certainly  now  appears  to  be  no  earthly  reason  why  the 
deaf  should  remain  deaf." 


TESTIMONY  FKOM  THE  INTER-OCEAN. 

(Date,  Sept.  4, 1879.) 

News  for  the  Deaf— Complete  Success  of  the  Audiphone — Simple 
yet  Marvelous. 

"Yesterday  afternoon  a  number  of  interested  gentlemen 
assembled  in  one  of  the  parlors  of  the  First  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church,  on  Clark  Street,  to  gather  some  information 
relative  to  the  audiphone.  This  little  machine  is  the  inven 
tion  of  Mr.  Kichard  S.  Rhodes,  of  the  firm  of  Rhodes  & 
McClure,  and  is  intended  to  be  used  by  those  who  have 
wholly  or  partially  lost  the  sense  of  hearing. 

The  audiphone  is  very  simple  in  construction,  and  with 
out  any  mechanism.  It  is  apparently  a  black  polished 
india  rubber  or  "  vulcanite  "  fan,  the  leaf  part  being  square 
with  rounded  corners,  the  material  very  flexible,  so  that  the 


FOR  THE  DEAF. 


11 


leaf  can,  if  necessary,  be  bent  double.  One  side  has  cords 
attached  from  the  thin  end  or  top  of  the  flap  of  the  >  fan  to 
the  handle.  When  these  cords  are  drawn  tight  they  curve 
down  the  flap  or  leaf  of  the  audiphone,  which  is  then  fixed 
for  use.  It  is  used  by  the  deaf  by  applying  the  thin  edge 
of  the  fan  to  the  four  front  teeth  of  the  upper  jaw. 

There  were  several  deaf  mutes  present,  who  were  experi 
mented  upon.  Mr.  Charles  Day  was  the  first  of  these. 
Fixing  the  audiphone  to  his  teeth  he  repeated  quite  audibly 
the  monosyllabic  sounds  "  hoo,  hoo,"  which  Mr.  Rhodes  re 
cited  to  him.  To  prove  that  he  had  not  imitated  the  sounds 
from  watchiitg  the  illustrator's  lips,  Mr.  Day  was  blindfolded 
and  then  also  showed  conclusively,  by  repeating  two  more 
sounds,  that  this  was  a  bona-fide  triumph  of  the  audiphone. 
Without  the  apparatus  Mr.  Day  could  only  be  communicated 
with  by  the  deaf-mute  sign  language.  Mr.  Day,  who  is 
an  intelligent  young  fellow,  is  enthusiastic  with  regard 
to  the  audiphone.  He  has  for  the  first  time  by  its  aid 
heard  the  sound  of  his  own  voice.  To  The  Inter -Ocean 
reporter  he  stated,  via  the  interpreter,  that  he  was  satisfied 
with  the  audiphone,  and  repeated  the  word  "  water  "  so  as 
to  be  understood,  which  he  had  learned  by  means  of  these 
"new  spectacles  for  the  ears." 

A  gentleman  who  was  very  hard  of  hearing  tested  the 
audiphone  and  found  it  of  great  benefit.  Several  other  ex 
periments  were  made,  and  were  in  each  case  more  or  less 
successful. 

Among  those  who  were  in  the  audience  were  the  Rev. 
Professor  Swing,  the  Rev.  L.  M.  Stone,  and  Dr.  Gray,  of  the 
Interior;  Dr.  J.  C.  Tallerday,  of  the  Medical  Times;  Dr. 
Brophy,  and  representatives  of  The  Inter -Ocean  aud  other 
daily  journals." 


2  THE  AUDIPHONE 

TESTIMONY  FEOM  THE  CHICAGO  TIMES. 

(Date,  Sept.  4,  1879.) 

Defeating  Deafness— Let  those  who  have  not  Ears  to  Hear,  Hear 
with  Their  Teeth. 

u  Mr.  Richard  S.  Khodes,  a  Chicago  business  man,  has  been 
led  by  his  own  deafness,  a  difficulty  of  twenty  years'  stand 
ing,  to  make  a  series  of  experiments,  covering  the  last  six 
or  seven  years,  in  the  direction  of  assisting  the  deaf  by  means 
of  vibrations  of  the  acoustic  nerve  transmitted  through  the 
teeth.  He  has  at  last  perfected  an  instrument  which 
promises  to  greatly  alleviate"  the  discomfort  not  only  of  the 
deaf,  but  of  those  who  have  to  talk  with  the  deaf.  This  he 
has  named  the  Audiphone. 

It  is  a  plate  of  a  new  composition  the  material  being  a 
part  of  the  invention,  and  made  only  for  it,  measuring  per 
haps  eight  inches  wide  by  nine  long,  and  provided  with  a 
handle.  It  looks  very  much  like  a  fan,  andean  be  used  as 
such.  The  rubber  plate  is  very  flexible,  and  on  the  under 
side  is  a  cord  attached  to  the  upper  edge  of  the  plate  and 
passing  through  the  handle,  in  which  there  is  a  clamp,  by 
means  of  which  the  holder  can  secure  it  at  any  point,  and 
thereby  hol.d  the  plate  bent  to  any  desired  degree.  "When 
bent  the  handle  is  held  in  the  hand  and  the  upper  edge  of 
the  rubber  plate  is  placed  under  and  touching  the  eye  teeth, 
the  under  teeth  not  being  allowed  to  touch  it.  Any  sound 
which  strikes  the  place  produces  a  vibration,  which  is  trans 
mitted  from  the  teeth  to  the  auditory  nerves,  and  the  im 
pression  of  sound  is  produced.  For  different  degrees  of 
deafness  different  degrees  of  tension  are  required,  and  by 
means  of  the  cord  and  clamp  one  can  regulate  the  tension  of 
the  audiphone  as  readily  as  he  can  regulate  the  focus  of  an 
opera-glass. 

•An  exhibition  of  this  instrument  was  given  on  yesterday 
afternoon  in  room  No.  20  Methodist  Church  block.  Among 


FOR  THE  DEAF.  13 

the  persons  present  were  Dr.  T.  W.  Brophy,  Dr.  G.  C.  Tal- 
lerday,  of  The  Medical  Times,  Prof.  David  Swing,  "W.  C. 
Gray,  Ph.  D.,  of  The  Interior,  Mr.  Stone  of  The  North 
western  Christian  Advocate,  the  Rev.  S.  Gilbert  of  The 
Advance,  and  a  number  of  others,  among  whom  were 
several  deaf-mutes.  One  or  two  adults  who  were  quite 
deaf  were  present.  A  number  of  experiments  were  tried 
with  the  deaf  persons,  with  and  without  the  audiphone, 
and  in  some  cases  with  eyes  bandaged  so  that  the  motion 
of  the  speaker's  lips  should  be  of  no  assistance.  In  all 
cases  the  deaf  persons  found  they  could  hear  much  better 
with  than  without  the  audiphone,  and  some,  in  fact,  could 
not  hear  at  all  without  it. 

One  of  the  deaf-mute  boys  found  himself  able  to  hear 
quite  well  with  the  audiphone,  but  having  been  deaf  from 
infancy  he  had  never  learned  the  meaning  of  sound,  and 
unless  he  could  see  the  speaker's  lips,  he  could  not  under 
stand  English  any  more  than  Chinese.  A  gentleman  about 
thirty-five  years  old,  who  could  hear  but  very  little,  found 
himself  able  with  the  audiphone  to  hear  remarks  made  in 
his  ordinary  tone  of  voice  by  Prof.  Swing,  who,  it  is  well 
known,  is  not  a  loud  speaker,  and  who  was  sitting  at  a 
distance  of  ten  feet.  The  professor,  whose  prayers  are  rarely 
heard  by  the  remoter  portions  of  his  congregation,  was 
anxious  to  know  how  far  the  audiphone  would  be  useful  in 
churches  and  halls  and  whether  it  conferred  the  faculty  of 
belief  as  well  as  that  of  hearing.  Mr.  Rhodes  declined  to 
recommend  his  invention  as  a  remedy  for  skepticism,  or  as 
a  convenience  for  people  whose  hearing  was  good,  but  whose 
seats  were  too  far  from  the  pulpit.", 


14  THE  AUDIPHONE. 

FROM  THE  «  FADERNESLANDET." 

(Scandinavian  Paper,  Chicago,  September,  1879.  Translation.) 

[The  editor  of  this  journal  voluntarily  interviewed  the  parties  mentioned  herein 
concerning  the  Audiphone.] 

"  This  instrument  has  already  attracted  a  good  deal  of 
:  ttention,  and  all  agree  that  it  is  going  to  be  of  immense 
value  for  the  deaf.  The  most  prominent  papers  have 
contained  big  treatises  over  the  Audiphone,  and  we  could 
furnish  our  readers  with  hundreds  of  undeniable  testimo 
nies  concerning  the  excellences  of  the  Audiphone,  but  space 
compels  us  to  be  satisfied  in  giving  the  following  few: 

The  Hon.  Jos.  Medill,  proprietor  of  the  Chicago  Tribune, 
has  been  deaf  for  a  number  of  years,  and  during  that  time 
he  has  been  using  all  devices  known  for  improving  his 
hearing.  None  of  them  were  satisfactory,  but  now,  when 
he  has  tried  the  Audiphone  for  some  weeks,  he  finds  that 
it  not  only  improves  his  hearing,  but  restores  the  sense  of 
hearing  to  him. 

The  son  of  Mr.  Jacob  Kleinhaus,  No.  91  Chicago  Avenue, 
has  a  long  time  been  suffering  from  deafness.  He  states, 
that  at  a  visit  at  the  company's  office  he  could  hear  very 
perfectly  through  the  Audiphone,  and  intends  to  purchase 
one. 

Frank  E.  Gerber,  No.  127  Twentieth  St.,  and  Samuel  F. 
Woods,  No.  94  Washington  St.,  also  witness  the  excellency 
of  the  tinstrument. 

Charles  F.  Day,  No.  755  Michigan  Ave.,  deaf  since  1864, 
can  hear  somewhat  with  Audiphone. 

John  Holland,  deaf  eight  years,  residing  at  No.  791 
Hinman  St.,  can  hear  with  the  Andiphone. 

Frank  Luttrell,  residing  in  Cairo,  111.,  states  the  same. 

Fred.  Stickel,  from  Delavan,  Wis.,  deaf  and  dumb,  and 
attending  school  in  Chicago,  can  hear  with  Audiphone. 
Thinks  he  can  not  do  without  it. 


FOR  THE  DEAF.  15 

Lars  M.  Larson,  a  Swede,  residing  in  Springville, 
Wis.,  believes  that  he  can  learn  to  hear  with  the  Audi- 
phone. 

Alexander  Weisel,  twenty  years  old,  eighteen  years  deaf, 
can  hear  with  the  Audiphone." 


FKOM  THE  «  DIE  DEUTSCHE  WARTE. 

(German  Paper,  Chicago,  Sept.  14, 1879.    Translation.) 

"Chicago  once  more  ahead!  for  Richard  Rhodes,  ^of  the 
publishing  firm  of  Rhodes  &  McClure,  of  this  city,  who 
has  been  deaf  for  about  twenty  years,  has  succeeded  in 
bringing  to  practical  use  the  long-known  theory  of  hearing 
by  means  of  the  bones  of  any  part  of  the  head,  and  for 
which  the  eye  teeth,  with  their  delicate  nerve  system,  form 
the  basis  of  operation.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  Bee 
thoven,  the  great  composer,  used  as  a  substitute  for  the  ear 
a  metallic  rod,  which  he  held  between  the  teeth,  with  the 
other  end  resting  on  the  sounding  board  of  his  piano,  by 
which  means  he  was  able  to  hear  what  his  braki  had  pro 
duced,  and  thus  reach  perfection  in  music  which  has  rarely 
been  equaled. ,_  J ;. . 

We  can  say  with  assurance  that  those  denied  the  pleasure 
of  hearing,  and  who  have  a  good  set  of  teeth,  will  no  longer 
be  deaf.  We  have  the  best  evidence  of  this  in  our  friend, 
Jos.  Medill,  the  editor  of  the  Chicago  Tribune,  who  assures 
us,  that  since  he  is  in  possession  of  the  Audiphone  he  does 
not  feel  the  loss  of  hearing  to  suck  an  extent  as  before,  and 
that  he  hears  with  the  Audiphone  every  word  spoken  or 
any  other  noise  near  him  as  good  as  those  whose  hearing 
is  perfect,  and  can  again  enjoy  the  theater  and  other  public 
amusements." 


16  THE  AUDI  PHONE 

.  FROM  THE  DROVERS'  JOURNAL. 

(Chicago,  Sept.  10, 1879.) 

"  Look  to  your  eye  teeth,  for  they  are  destined  to  serve 
as  ears  to  those  who  can  not  hear  in  the  ordinary  way.  The 
writer  saw  an  Audiphone  tried  upon  a  man  whom  he  knows 
to  be  as  '  deaf  as  a  post,'  and  was  amused  to  see  the 
expression  of  surprise  steal  over  his  face  at  hearing  the 
ordinary  human  voice.  Every  deaf  man,  for  the  comfort 
of  himself  and  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact,  should 
have  one." 


FROM  THE  INTERIOR. 

(Organ  Presbyterian  Church,  Dated  Sept.  18, 1879.) 

"  I  knew  it  was  coming,  and  have  been  waiting  for  it — 
something  which  would  do  for  the  hearing  what  spectacles  do 
for  the  sight."  So  writes  a  friend  in  regard  to  the  Audiphone. 
But  the  tests  at  Methodist  Church  Block  show  that  the 
Audiphone  does  more  than  this.  No  spectacles  will  give  a 
blind  man  sight,  but  the  new  instrument  does  give  a  deaf 
man  hearing. 


FROM  THE  ADVANCE. 

(.Organ  Congregational  Church,  Dated   Sept.  11, 1879.) 

"  Hear,  O  ye  deaf!  The  "  Audiphone  "  is  the  name  of  an 
instrument,  recently  invented  by  Mr.  Richard  S.  Rhodes,  of 
Chicago,  which,  it  is  believed,  will  work  wonders  for  the 
relief  of  the  deaf.  Its  construction  is  as  simple  almost  as 
that  of  a  Japanese  fan,  which  in  shape  it  resembles.  It  is  a 
device  by  which  one  whose  hearing  is  either  wholly  or 
partially  lost,  may  hear — not  through  the  ear — but  through 
the  teeth;  that  is,  by  means  of  vibrations  communicated 


FOR  THE  DEAF.  17 

from  the  edge  of  the  fan-shaped  instrument  to  the  teeth,  and 
through  the  teeth,  and  thence  to  the  auditory  nerve.  We 
have  seen  persons  hear  sounds  in  this  way  who  never  before, 
knew  what  sound  was.  If  we  are  not  much  mistaken,  the 
world  will  yet  build  a  monument  to  our  friend  Mr.  Rhodes 
ft*  the  beneficence  of  his  invention." 


FROM  THE  STANDARD. 

[(Organ  Baptist  Church,  Dated  Sopt.  25, 1879.) 
THE   AUDIPHONE. 

"We  have  just  examined  an  instrument,  an  invention  of  Mr. 
Richard  S.  Rhodes,  of  this  city,  which  is  admirably  adapted 
to  afford  relief  in  partial  or  entire  loss  of  hearing.  It 
has  been  pretty  thoroughly  tested  by  scientific  men  and 
others,  and  ample  testimony  is  borne  that  the  results  are 
eminently  satisfactory.  In  this  invention  Mr.  Rhodes  has 
proved  himself  a  benefactor. 


FROM  THE  K  W.  CHRISTIAN  ADVOCATE. 

(Organ  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Dated  Sept.  10, 1879.) 

"  Mr.  Richard  Rhodes,  of  this  city,  has  invented  a  simple 
contrivance  by  which  sound  vibrations  may  be  communi 
cated  to  the  auditory  nerve  through  the  upper  teeth  and  jaw, 
so  that  persons  congenitally  deaf  are  able  to  perceive  sounds 
very  much  as  if  the  entire  auditory  apparatus  were  restored. 

The  contrivance  consists  of  a  piece  of  flexible  polished 
rubber  in  the  shape  of  a  Japanese  fan,  which  is  bent  to  the 
proper  vibratory  tension,  and  the  edge  placed  against  the 
upper  teeth.  A  trial  of  the  capabilities  of  the  audiphone 
was  made  before  several  journalists  and  other  gentlemen 


18  THE  AUDI  PHONE 

Sept.  4,  on  three  persons,  one  of  whom  had  never  heard 
anything,  while  the  two  others  were  partially  deaf.  The 
mute  was  blindfolded  and  asked  to  respond  to  the  sounds 
made  with  the  use  of  the  Audiphone,  which  he  did  in  a 
manner  to  convince  all  present  that  he  could  hear  an  ordinary 
vocal  tone.  The  Audiphone  enables  those  who  are  partially 
deaf  to  hear  with  nearly  or  quite  the  perfection  of  those 
who  are- in  complete  possession  of  the  sense." 


FEOM  THE  ALLIANCE. 

(Independent.    Chicago,  Sept.  20, 1879.) 

By  means  of  this  instrument,  those  who  have  been  deaf 
from  birth  are  enabled  to  hear,  and  are  learning,  by  simple 
auxiliary  instructions,  to  talk. 


FROM  THE  LIYIXG  CHURCH. 

(Protestant  Episcopal  Church  Organ.) 

"Mr.  Rhodes,  of  the  well-known  publish  ing  firm  of  Rhodes 
&  McClure,  booksellers,  has  wandered  outside  his  sphere  of 
Belling  books  into  the  field  of  invention.  It  is  called  an 
Audiphone,  and  really  possesses  the  most  wonderful  quali 
ties.  By  a  simple  contrivance,  a  square-cornered  fan  of 
special  composition,  people  as  deaf  as  the  traditional  post  are 
enabled  to  hear  quite  clearly.  For  the  old  fashioned  ear, 
the  teeth  are  substituted  and  the  same  end  arrived  at.  Ex 
periments  made  the  other  day  with  persons  deaf  and  dumb 
from  their  birth,  proved  beyond  question  that  the  invention 
is  a  decided  success.  Both  vocal  and  instrumental  sounds 
were  heard  by  those  who  had  never  heard  before." 


FOR  THE  DEAF.  19 

.     FROM  THE  HERALD  AND  PRESBYTER 

(Organ  Presbyterian  Church,  Cincinnati,  Sept.  17,  1879.) 

"  There  is  no  limit  to  the  inventive  genius  of  man. 
Not  until  the  past  few  years  have  the  people  been  almost 
constantly  startled  by  new  and  strange  things.  The  latest 
is  a  curious  device  for  relieving  deafness,  based  upon  an 
entirely  new  principle  in  the  transmission  of  sound  to  the 
auditory  nerve. 

"The  inventor,  Mr.  Richard  S.Rhodes,  of  the  publishing 
firm,  Rhodes  &  McClnre,  of  Chicago,  who  was  very  deaf, 
discovered  that  he  could  hear  his  watch  tick  while  holding 
it  in  his  teeth,  whereas  he  could  not  when  placed  to  his  ear. 
This  led  him  to  begin  a  series  of  experiments,  which  we 
are  told  proved  entirely  successful,  and  resulted  in  the  in 
vention  of  a  cunningly-devised  contrivance,  which,  when 
held  in  the  teeth,  gathers  the  sound  and  communicates  it 
to  the  brain. 


FROM    THE    EVENING  WISCONSIN. 

MILWAUKEE,  Oct.  1,  1879. 

The  editor  of  this  paper,  Mr.  J.  F.  Cramer,  who  is  very 
deaf,  after  making  some  experiments  with  the  Audiphone, 
says,  in  an  editorial,  "  He  has  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  Audiphone  is  a  very  valuable  invention.  His  deafness 
is  of  long  standing  and  his  hearing  is  very  much  impaired, 
yet,  with  the  Audiphone  he  can  hear  persons  speak  at  a 
distance  which  would  be  utterly  impossible  without  its  use. 
He  has  tried  it  in  the  process  of  reading  and  he  finds  it 
equally  serviceable.  The  use  of  the  Audiphone  has  the  ad 
vantage  that  it  can  be  applied  without  effort  and  that  when 
a  deaf  person  is  disposed  to  be  lazy  he  can  hear  notwith 
standing.  With  the  old  i  snake  auricular  '  this  can  not  be 
so  for  there  is  always  a  deal  of  labor  in  striving  to  keep  the 
auricular  in  the  ear." 


20  THE  AUDIPUONE 

FROM  PROF.  EDWAKD  A.  FAY. 

(Professor  in  the  National  Dumb  Institute,  at  Washington,  D.  C.) 
In  the  American  Annals  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb. 
Experiments  with  the  audiphone  have  recently  been  tried 
upon  some  of  the  pupils  of  the  Chicago  Day-School  and 
others  who  are  entirely  deaf  so  far  as  the  external  ear  is 
concerned,  and  it  is  found  that  they  are  able  to  hear  and 
distinguish  sounds  through  this  instrument.  We  are  not 
prepared  to  say  with  the  enthusiastic  reporter  of  one  of  the 
Chicago  papers  who  witnessed  these  experiments  that 
"  there  now  appears  to  be  no  earthly  reason  why  the  deal 
should  remain  deaf,"  for  in  the  many  cases  of  deafness 
where  the  auditory  nerve  is  impaired,  the  audiphone  can 
be  of  no  avail ;  but  where,  as  is  often  the  case,  the  defect 
is  only  in  those  parts  of  the  ear  by  which  vibrations  are  con 
veyed  to  the  nerve  from  without,  we  believe  this  invention 
will  prove  a  great  boon. 


FKOM  THE  WATCHMAN. 

(International  Organ  Y.  M.  C.  A.) 

The  *Audiphone,  a  new  invention  that  enables  the  deaf,, 
even  mutes,  to  hear  through  the  medium  of  the  teeth,  was 
thoroughly  tested  before  the  members  of  the  Chicago  press 
last  week.  The  test  was  in  all  respects  satisfactory. 


FROM  THE  LAWRENCE  DAILY  JOURNAL. 

(Kansas,  Dated  Sept.  25, 1879.) 

The  name  of  Richard  S.  Rhodes  will  be  held  in  grateful 
remembrance  as  the  discoverer  ot  the  Audiphone  by  thou 
sands  who  may  come  after  him,  as  will  the  names  of  Fulton, 
Morse,  and  other  inventors  and  discoverers,  who  have  con 
tributed  so  much  to  science  during  the  nineteenth  century. 


FOB   THE   DEAF.  21 

PERSONAL   COMMENDATIONS. 

(Extracts  from  Correspondence.) 


LETTER  TO  HON.  JOSEPH  MEDILL,  EDITOK 
«  CHICAGO  TRIBUNE." 

(Prom  E.  F.  Test,  Claim  Agent  CJ.  P.  R.  R.) 

{FREIGHT  AUDITOR'S  OFFICE, 
OMAHA,  NEB.,  Sept.  21,  1879. 
MY  DEAR  MR.  MEDILL: 

Instead  of  going  to  church  this  morning,  I  have  come 
down  to  the  office  to  thank  you  for  your  renewed  thought- 
fulness  in  sending  me  the  pamphlet  about  the  Audiphone. 
I  sent  to  Mr.  Rhodes  for  one  after  receiving  your  first 
notice,  and  got  the  conversational  style.  It  answers  the 
purpose  admirably.  It  has  created  quite  a  sensation  among 
mv  friends.  It  was  comical  to  see  a  number  of  them  fan 
ning  themselves  with  it,  under  the  impression  that  it  was 
simply  a  fan,  arid  then  in  a  few  moments  to  see  their  aston 
ishment  when  they  saw  me  hearing  with  it  just  as  well  as  I 
ever  did.  All  the  physicians  to  whom  I  have  shown  it 

endorse  it  warmly,  i 

Your  sincere  friend, 

E.  F.  TEST. 

FROM  E.  F.  TEST. 

(Claim  Agent  Union  Pacific  R.  R.^Co.) 

{UNION  PACIFIC  R.  R.  OFFICE, 
OMAHA,  NEB.,  Sept.  19,  1879. 

Messrs.  RHODES  &  McCLURE,  Chicago,  111. 

The  Audiphone  came  all  right  yesterday  noon.  It  ap 
pears  to  answer  the  purpose  admirably,  and  seems  to  have 


22  THE   AUDI  PHONE 

created  quite  a  sensation  among  my  friends.  Now  that  I 
have  it,  I  don't  want  to  do  without  one  for  a  day.  I  am 
astonished  and  delighted  at  the  volume  of  sound  the  instru 
ment  can  convey  through  the  nerves.  It  seems  to  work  on 
the  principle  of  ventriloquism.  I  enclose  my  cheque  No. 
4  on  the  State  Bank  of  Nebraska  for  $10.00. 

I  am,  respectfully  yours,  E.  F.  TEST. 


FKOM  KT.  EEY.  R.  II.  CLARKSON,  D.  D., 

(Bishop  of  Nebraska,  Omaha.) 

"  I  am  personally  acquainted  with  Mr.  Test  of  Omaha, 
and  1  can  scarcely  make  him  hear  by  shouting  to  him. 
If  you  make  that  man  hear  you  do  wonders." — Bishop 
Clarkson's  remark  while  purchasing  an  Audiphone  in  the 
Chicago  office. 

FROM  A  YOUNG  LADY. 

(Concerning  her  Father.) 

"  My  father,  who  has  been  deaf  forty-six  years,  and  who 
can  only  hear  when  you  are  near  to  him  and  speak  very 
loudly,  can  hear  an  ordinary  conversation  by  the  help  of  the 
Audiphone." 

CHICAGO,  Sept.  22,  1879. 

FROM  JOHN  ATKINSON. 

(Sec.,  Treas.,  Supt.,  and  Engineer  Racine  Gaslight  Co.,  and  builder  of  West  Side  Gas 
Works,  Chicago.) 

(  OFFICE  OF  RACINE  GASLIGHT  COMPANY, 
(  RACINE,  Wis.,  Sept.  19,  1879. 

Messrs.  RHODES  &  McCLURE,  Chicago,  111. 

Gents: — I  have  been  deaf  for  thirty  years,  but  can  now 

hear  distinctly  with  the  Audiphone.     I  thank  God  that  I 


FOR  THE  DEAF.  23 

now  have  something  that  will  help  my  hearing,  and  that  I 
can  now  enjoy,  as  well  as  others,  some  of  the  delights  of 
this  world's  amusements. 

Yours  truly,  JOHN  ATKINSON. 


FKOM  W.  W.  EYAKS. 

j          GKANT  LOCOMOTIVE  WORKS, 
(      PATTERSON,  K  J.,  Sept.,  1879. 

Messrs.  ERODES  &  McCLURE,  Chicago,  111.,  v 

Gents: — Your  Audiphone  to  hand.  The  lady  (my  sister) 
has  tried  it,  and  finds  she  can  hear  now  an  ordinary  con 
versation,  which  she  can  not  do  without  it.  I  would  not 
part  with  it  for  ten  times  its  cost. 

Yery  respectfully,  W.  W.  EVANS. 


FEOM  HENRY  MILNES,  ESQ. 

(Resident  of  Cold  Water,  Mich.) 

I  have  been  a  little  deaf  for  over  thirty  years  and  very 
deaf  for  twenty  years,  and  have  not  heard  a  sermon,  lecture, 
or  a  tune  on  the  piano  for  twenty  years.  I  procured  an 
Audiphone  yesterday  and  can  already  hear  quite  well  ai 
ordinary  conversation,  and  expect  by  a  little  practice  to  be 
able  to  hear  sermons,  music,  etc.,  without  much  difficulty. 

CHICAGO,  Sept.  24,  1879.  HENRY  MILNES. 


S.  H.  WELLER,  D.D., 

"The  loss  of  hearing  is  a  deprivation  than  which  there  is 
scarcely  any  other  more  serious.  The  extent  to  which  this 
misfortune  prevails  can  only  be  realized  when  we  reflect 


24  THE  AUDIPHONE 

that  the  deaf  are  to  be  found  in  numbers  in  every  community. 
The  man,  therefore,  who  by  any  device,  affords  relief  to  this 
army  of  afflicted  ones,  not  only  deserves  honorable  men 
tion  as  an  inventor,  but  becomes  a  benefactor  of  his  race. 
The  "Audiphone,"  recently  invented  by  Mr  Rhodes,  of  the 
firm  of  Rhodes  &  McClure,  gives  good  promise  of  meeting 
this  case.  The  inventor  himself,  with  whom  it  is  difficult 
to  converse  at  all,  joins  readily,  with  the  use  of  this  instru 
ment,  in  ordinary  conversation.  I  am  satisfied,  from  ex 
periments  which  I  have  witnessed,  that,  excepting  instances 
in  which  the  auditory  nerve  is  fatally  paralyzed,  all  the  deaf 
may,  by  its  help,  be  enabled  to  hear  and  intelligently  con 
verse.  This  invention  employs  an  entirely  new  and  hitherto 
unused  medium  of  sound,  and  hence  the  most  convincing 
and  gratifying  results  are  obtained,  where  the  natural  organ 
of  hearing  is  entirely  destroyed.  I  should  like  to  speak  in 
terms  of  strong  commendation  of  an  invention  which  is 
certain  to  be  widely  used,  and  which  is  bound  to  play  a 
prominent  part  in  ministering  to  the  comfort  of  the  afflicted." 

S.  H.  WELLER, 

Resident  Minister,  Chicago. 

FROM  E.  C.  ELY. 

(      OFFICE  OF  REYNOLDS  &  ELY, 
•(  WHOLESALE   PROVISION    DEALERS, 
(  PEORIA,  ILL.,  Oct.  4,  1879. 

Messrs.  RHODES  &  McCLURE,  Chicago,  111. 

Gentlemen  : — The  'phone  at  hand,  and  on  trial  even 
more  satisfactory  than  could  be  expected  at  first  use.  My 
wife  and  friends  are  delighted  and  enthusiastic  over  it.  They 
are  rejoiced  that  I  can  hear,  and  1  am  glad  that  -it  no  longer 
requires  an  effort  on  their  part  to  enable  me  to  do  so.  I 
have  sent  the  pamphlets  to  friends  similarly  afflicted,  and 
would  like  five  or  six  more  for  the  same  purpose. 

Yours  truly,  E.  C.  ELY. 


FOR    THE   DEAF.  25 

FROM  B.   H.  MULFORD,   ESQ., 

(Of  Montrose,  Pa.) 

"  I  am  certain  I  can  understand  lectures,  concerts,  etc., 
with  it.  My  audiphone  is  the  wonder  of  the  day.  It  helps 
me  wonderfully  in  conversation." 


FROM  G.  H.  PAINE. 

FREMONT,  NEB.,  Sept.  30,  18T9. 

Gentlemen:  Received  Audiphone  by  yesterday's  express. 
To-day  I  am  able  to  hear  ordinary  conversation,  directed 
against  the  Audiphone,  from  two  to  four  feet  distance  per 
fectly;  Music  clear  in  any  part  of  the  room.  If  every  deaf 
person  using  your  Audiphone  meets  with  as  complete  suc 
cess  as  I  have  they  must  surely  wish  you  the  success  the 
invention  merits.  To  say  that  I  am  gratified  would  only 
express  moderately  how  I  feel. 


INTERVIEWS  WITH  THE  DEAF  AND  DUMB. 


OH  AS.  P.  DAY. 

(Mute  ;  residence  755  Michigan  av.,  Chicago,  after  using  an  Audiphone  a  few  days.) 

Do  you  hear  quite  well  now  with  the  Audiphone? 

"Yes,  sir." 

Do  you  hear  now,  after  using  the  Audiphone  for  several 
days,  any  better  than  you  did  when  you  first  began  to  use 
it? 

"  Yes." 

Are  you  learning  to  speak  now  by  the  help  of  the  Audi- 
phone? 

"  Yes,  sir.  My  mother  and  friends  are  teaching  me  every 
night." 

Do  you  think  you  can  learn  to  talk  by  the  help  of  the 
Audiphone? 

"  Yes,  sir;  I  have  an  Audiphone  at  hv_me  and  try  to  learn. 


26  THE   AUDI  PHONE 

« 

I  can  now  say  about  eleven  words.     I  can  say  "  bed,"  "  out  " 
«  waier,"  «  bad,"  "bad  girl,"  "  papa,"  "  no,'"  etc." 

How  long  have  you  been  a  deaf  mute? 

"Since  1864." 

How  old  are  you? 

"  Seventeen  years." 

What  caused  your  deafness? 

"Brain  fever." 

Do  you   believe  that  mutes,  like  yourself,  can  hear  and 
learn  to  talk  with  the  Audi  phone? 

"Yes." 

Do  you  believe  the  Audi  phone  would  be  a  good  thing  in 
the  deaf  mute  institutions  ? 

"Yes,  sir;  I  think  so." 


FROM  JOHN  L.  GAGE. 

(A  mute  from  birth;  residence,  Winetkii,  Cook  Co.,  Ills.) 

Are  you  a  mute?  "  Yes  sir,  from  biith.  I  am  forty-six 
years  old.  Before  I  tried  the  Audiphone  yesterday,  I  never 
heard  sound.  I  could  feel  the  jar  of  a  loud  ciy,  noise, 
thunder,  etc.,  at  a  short  distance." 

Did  you  ever  hear  the  voice  of  your  mother  or  sister? 
"  No  sir.  I  have  felt  the  jar  of  music." 

Did  you  hear  Mr.  Rhodes  when  he  spoke  to  you  on  the 
Audiphone?  "Yes  sir,  I  thought  his  voice  seemed  to  be  a 
fine  sound,  which  is  different  from  the  rough  jar  felt  by 
the  mutes." 

Was  that  the  first  human  voice  you  ever  heard?  "  Ye& 
sir,  it  was,  and  I  heard  it  with  the  Audiphone." 

How  did  Mr.  Rhodes  make  you  hear  your  own  voice? 
"He  pricked  my  leg  with  a  pin,  and  I  made  a  mild  cry, 
which  I  heard  through  the  Audiphone,  or  from  my  teeth 
nerves.  I  think  I  can  learn  to  speak  with  the  Audiphone, 
but  I  think  it  is  harder  for  the  congenital  deaf  mutes  than 
the  semi-mutes,  because  they  do  not  know  what  sound 
means." 


L.  M.  LARSON. 

(Springville,  Wis.) 

How  long  deaf  ?     "  Eighteen  months  after  birth."    Age? 


FOR  THE   DEAF.  2? 

"Twenty-three  years." 

Can  you  hear  anything  without  the  Audiphone? 
"  No." 

Can  you  hear  with  it? 
"  A  little." 

Do  you  think  you  could  learn  to  hear  with  it? 
"  I  can,  I  believe." 
Where  do  you  live? 

"  In  Springville,  Wis.,  and  am  a  student  at  the  National 
Deaf'  Mute  College,  Washington   D.  C." 


ALVA  JEFFORDS. 

(Washington,  B.C.) 

Can  you  hear  with  the  Audiphone? 

"  A  little." 

Can  you  hear  without  it? 

"  No." 

How  long  have  you  been  deaf? 

"  Fourteen  years." 

Do  you  believe  you  could  learn  to  speak  with  the  Audi- 
phone? 

"Yes." 

*!  Do  you  attend  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution  in  Wash 
ington?      "  Yes." 

SAMUEL  F.  WOOD. 

(Englewood,  111.) 

"I  have  been  deaf  ever  since  I  was  about  fifteen  years  old 
It  was  caused  by  swimming  and  diving  too  much.  I  hear 
some  sounds.  I  hear  the  sound  of  the  voice,  but  not  loud 
enough  to  distinguish  words.  Occasionally  I  happen  to 
hear  a  word  or  two.  Sometimes  I  distinguish  what  is  said 
partly  by  the  motions  of  the  lips  and  partly  by  catching 
some  sounds." 

How  old  are  you  ?     "  Thirty-five  years." 

Can  you  hear  music? 

"  I  hear  a  'sort  of  sound,  but  not  enough  to  enjoy  it  in  the 
least." 


28  THE  AUDIPHONE 

Do  you  hear  pretty  well  with  the  Audiphone? 

u  I  hear  very  much  better,  though  not  perfectly.  I  am  of 
the  opinion  that  by  practicing  with  it  I  would  gradually 
acquire  the  ability  to  hear  ordinary  conversation  and  ser 
mons.  Probably  I  could  never  be  able  to  take  part  in 
conversation  with  several  different  persons  either 'with  this 
(the  Audiphone)  or  with  anything."  . 

We  think  by  use  constantly  you  would  be.  Do  you  find 
that  it  enables  you  to  control  your  voice,  and  that  it  is 
easier  to  speak?  • 

"  It  is  certainly  easier  to  speak,  especially  for  any  length 
of  time,  with  this  than  without  it.  I  think  it  worth  while 
to  have  one  just  to  practice  speaking  and  talking." 

Mr.  Wood  had  so  nearly  lost  his  voice  that  it  was  a  great 
effort  for  him  to  speak,  and  his  articulation  was  very  indis 
tinct.  After  reading  a  page  from  a  book  by  the  aid  of  the 
Audiphone,  he  remarked  that  u  he  read  with  ease,  which  he 
<X)uld  not  have  done  without  the  Audiphone." 


The  Audiphone  operates  with  remarkable  power  in  en 
abling  the  deaf  to  successfully  hear  the  varying  sounds  and 
harmonies  of  music,  whether  produced  by  the  voice  or  in 
struments.  To  such  who  have  heretofore  been  denied  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  the  "divine  art,"  this  invention  will  be 
of  great  advantage.  So,  also,  is  it  invaluable  as  an  aid  to 
hear  sermons,  lectures,  public  speaking,  etc. 


FROM  ABBIE  R.  STEYENS. 

SALEM,  MASS.,  Oct.  9,  1879. 
Messrs.  RHODES  &  McCLURE. 

Gentlemen : — The  Audiphone  arrived  Monday,  and  it 
greatly  exceeds  my  expectations.  I  hear  ordinary  conver 
sation  with  ease,  and  it  is  a  wonder  to  me  every  time  I  use 
it.  Sounds  that  I  had  not  heard  for  years,  and  had  quite 
forgotten,  came  back  distinctly,  and  the  more  I  use  it  the 
better  I  like  it.  I  expect  to  hear  in  church  this  winter, 
which  I  have  not  done  lor  five  years.  Yon  certainly  de 
serve  the  thanks  of  all  deaf  people.  ABBIE  R.  STEVENS. 


ADDITIONAL  TESTIMONY. 


The  Audiphone  Tested  at  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution 
at  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


FROM  THE    INDIANAPOLIS   DAILY   JOURNAL. 

(October  13,  1879.) 

Tested  at  the  Indiana  Institute  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  with  Satisfac 
tory  Results — A  Wonderful  Instrument,  by  Means  of 
Which  the  Deaf  Hear  and  the  Dumb  Speak. 

"  Although  this  is  not  the  age  of  miracles,  it  must  be 
recorded  that  on  Saturday  evening  last  a  very  wonderful 
occurrence  was  witnessed  by  a  party  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
gathered  in  one  of  the  parlors  of  the  Institution  for  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb.  Literally,  'the  dumb  spoke  and  the 
deaf  heard,'  and  this  without  the  performance  of  any  mir 
acle,  the  aid  of  any  legerdemain  or  mysterious  incantation. 
It  seemed  simple  enough,  when  the  feat  had  been  accom 
plished,  and  yet  twelve  months  ago  it  could  not  have  been 
done — had,  indeed,  been  scarcely  dreamed  of  as  a  possibility 
of  the  dim  distant  future. 

"The  scene  on  the  occasion  referred  to  was,  it  need  hardly 
be  said,  novel  and  deeply  interesting.  Only  a  few  persons 
were  invited  to  witness  it,  and  included  in  the  select  company 
was  a  Journal  representative.  The  object  was  to  test  the 
value  of  the  newly-invented  audiphone  to  persons  who  for 
the  greater  part  of*  their  life  have  been  both  deaf  and 
speechless.  Mr.  Richard  S.  Rhodes,  the  inventor,  was 
present  to  superintend  the  test,  which  was  the  more  intensely 

29 


30  THE  AUDIPHONE. 

interesting  because  it  was  the  first  time  that  the  new  instru 
ment  had  been  introduced  to  the  pupils  of  any  institution 
devoted  entirely  to  the  education  of  deaf  mutes. 

"  Before  describing  the  test,  it  may  be  well  to  state  for  the 
information  of  the  uninformed  reader  that  the  audiphone 
is  an  instrument  of  peculiar  composition,  made  in  the  shape 
of  a  fan,  which  possesses  the  property  of  gathering  the 
faintest  sounds  (somewhat  similar  to  a  telephone  diaphragm) 
arid  conveying  them  to  the  auditory  nerve  through  the 
medium  of  the  teeth,  the  external  ear  having  nothing  to 
do  in  hearing  with  this  wonderful  instrument.  To  aid  in 
the  experiment  with  the  pupils,  a  cabinet  organ  was  brought 
in  use — for  the  first  time,  it  is  understood,  in  the  history 
of  the  institution — and  a  class  of  girls,  varying  in  age  from 
twelve  to  eighteen,  were  provided  with  audiphones.  One 
by  one  the  children  were  taken  close  up  to  the  organ,  which. 
was  played  by  one  of  the  lady  teachers,  and  were  asked 
whether,  with  the  use  of  the  instrument,  they  could  dis 
tinguish  any  sound,  and  if  so,  whether  any  difference  in 
sounds  was  noticeable. 

"  A  bright  little  girl  of  ten  or  twelve  years  was  the  first  to 
whom  the  test  was  applied.  She  had  not  heard  her  own 
voice  or  distinguished  any  sound  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  was  regarded  as  stone-deaf  and  speechless.  She  had 
not  listened  more  than  a  minute  when  her  features  lighted 
up  with  a  smile  which  told  the  whole  story.  It  was  not 
that  the  music  was  sweet  and  pleasing — the  child's  uncul 
tured  sense  of  hearing  knew  nothing  of  sweet  or  harsh 
sounds — but  it  was  a  revelation  to  her  to  hear  at  all. 
When  askt-d  whether  the  organ  music  appeared  all  one  tone, 
her  reply  in  the  mute  language  was,  that  she  could  distin 
guish  what  seemed  to  her  different  sounds;  and  that  fact 
was  all  that  needed  to  be  established  at  the  first  experiment. 
Several  other  children  listened,  and  with  the  aid  of  the 


FOR  THE  DEAF.  31 

audiphone  reported  like  results,  some  hearing  less  dis 
tinctly  than  others,  but  all  being  able  to  distinguish  some 
sound  when  the  organ  was  played,  and  noticing  the 
difference  when  it  suddenly  ceased.  Some  of  the  older 
scholars  and  a  few  of  the  teachers  then  experimented  with 
the  use  of  the  instrument,  until  about  twenty  had  tried  it. 
Only  one,  a  male  teacher,  reported  unfavorably,  and  in  his 
case  it  was  admitted  that  the  auditory  nerve  was  entirely 
destroyed,  rendering  it  impossible  for  any  mechanical 
appliance  to  be  available  or  useful. 

"  It  is  a  theory  of  the  inventor  of  the  audiphone,  and  is, 
indeed,  a  well  authenticated  scientific  fact,  that  speech 
depends  upon  hearing;  in  other  words,  that  deaf  people  are 
dumb  because  they  can  not  regulate  or  distinguish  the  dif 
ferences  of  sound  by  hearing  their  own  voice.  An  experi 
ment  was  therefore  tried  with  a  view  of  inducing  a  young 
lady  who  had  not  uttered  an  intelligible  sound  since  she 
was  quite  young  to  speak  her  own  name  and  some  other 
words.  She  had  been  listening,  with  the  aid  of  the  audi 
phone,  for  several  minutes  to  others  talking,  but  when  asked 
to  say  something  herself  she  was  very  reluctant,  and  ex 
plained  in  the  sign  language  that  she  did  not  like  to,  because 
she  "would  only  make  some  hideous  sound,  which  would 
make  her  appear  ridiculous.  Eventually,  however,  she  was 
induced  to  make  the  effort,  and  although  she  spoke  quite 
low,  being  nervous  and  afraid  to  talk  loud,  she  heard  her 
own  voice  quite  distinctly.  The  joy  which  the  young  lady 
felt  at  this  glad  discovery  can  be  imagined  better  than  it 
can  be  described. 

"Another  test  applied  was  to  repeat  two  or  three  letters 
of  the  alphabet  to  the  deaf  mutes,  who  were  asked  if  they 
could  distinguish  the  difference  in  sound  between  la,'  4  i,' 
and  'ab.'  Simple  as  this  may  seem  to  those  who  have 
always  had  full  enjoyment  of  the  senses  of  speech  and  hear 
ing,  it  was  as  difficult  to  the 'deaf  mutes  as  it  would  be  for 


32  THE  AUDIPIIONE 

an  ordinary  mortal  to  tell  at  first  hearing  the  different 
shades  of  meaning  attached  to  the  multiplicity  of  vowels 
in  the  Fiji  language.  Except  in  the  case  of  mutes  who  at 
some  time  in  their  past  life  have  been  able  to  hear  and 
speak,  the  mind  is  a  perfect  blank  as  to  the  meaning  of 
sounds,  and,  therefore,  all  that  could  be  done  at  a  first  trial 
was  to  ascertain  whether  the  audiphone  enables  them  to 
hear  with  such  distinctness  as  to  recognize  any  difference 
in  sounds,  and  to  this  extent  the  experimental  test  of  last 
Saturday  was  quite  satisfactory.  One  of  the  most  experi 
enced  teachers  in  the  institution  stated  to  the  Journal  rep 
resentative,  during  the  evening,  that,  although  he  did  not 
think  the  audiphone  would  put  an  end  to  his  occupation  as 
a  teacher  of  deaf  mutes,  yet  he  did  believe  the  instrument 
would  prove  very  serviceable  to  persons  whose  auditory 
nerve  had  not  been  destroyed  by  disease.  Those  who  were 
partially  deaf  would  doubtless  be  able  to  hear  with  the  aid 
of  the  audiphone  much  more  easily  and  correctly  than  they 
could  with  an  ear- trumpet;  and  it  seemed  evident  from 
what  had  been  witnessed  that  evening,  that  many  cases 
hitherto  considered  hopeless  might  gain  benefit  from  the 
new  invention. 

Mr.  Khodes,  the  inventor,  says  he  has  known  of  sev 
eral  persons  whose  powers  of  speech  have  been  recovered 
with  the  ability  to  hear,  and  mentions  particularly  the  case 
of  two  sisters  who  had  lived  together,  but  had  not  heard 
each  other's  voice  for  a  number  of  years,  who  were  able 
during  the  first  hour  of  using  the  new  instrument  to  talk 
quite  freely.  Until  last  Saturday  Mr.  Rhodes  had  not 
exhibited  the  audiphone  outside  of  Chicago,  where  he  re 
sides,  and  he  chose  the  Indiana  institution  for  his  first  test,, 
because  he  recognized  the  fact  that  the  benevolent  institu 
tions  of  this  state  are  noted  all  over  the  country  for  their 
progressive  management  and  the  excellent  educational  ad 
vantages  provided." 


FOR  THE  DEAF.  33 

FKOM  THE  INDIANAPOLIS  DAILY  NEWS. 

(Oct.  13, 1879.) 

Spectacles  for  the  Ears — Interview  with  the  Inventor  of  the  Audi- 
phone— A  Boon  to  the  Deaf. 

"  Saturday  afternoon  a  JVews  reporter  met  Richard  S. 
Rhodes,  of  Chicago,  the  inventor  of  the  audiphone,  a  device 
that  enables  the  deaf  to  hear  through  the  medium  of  the 
teeth,  and  the  deaf  and  dumb  to  hear  and  learri  to  speak. 
The  external  ear  has  nothing  whatever  to  do  in  the  hearing 
with  this  instrument,  and  in  this  respect  it  differs  from  all 
other  help's  to  hear.  In  shape  the  audiphone  is  simply  a 
large  square  Japanese  fan,  made  of  carbonized  rubber,  on 
the  back  of  which  is  a  cord  stretched  from  the  upper  edge 
to  the  handle.  By  means  of  this  cord  the  instrument  is 
tuned,  and  the  tension  is  regulated  according  to  the  dis 
tance  the  sound  has  to  travel.  Mr.  Rhodes,  when  accosted 
by  the  interviewer,  had  one  of  these  fans.  He  has  himself 
been  deaf  for  twenty  years,  unable  to  hear  only  the  loudest 
noise.  He  placed  the  upper  "edge  of  this  rubber  fan  against 
his  two  middle  upper  teeth. 

"  '  This  fan,'  he  said,  '  responds  to  vibrations  just  as  the 
drum  of  the  ear  does.  Sound.is  communicated  to  the  brain 
and  understood,  as  it  produces  the  same  vibrations  on  the 
auditory  nerve  as  are  produced  through  the  medium  of  the 
ear.  Of  course  the  deaf  mute  has  to  be  taught  what  these 
vibrations  are.  When  they  can  understand  them  they  can 
hear  by  this  instrument,  and  can  talk,  as  the  audiphone 
enables  them  to  hear  their  own  voice  and  to  modulate  it.' 

" 4  How  long  have  you  been  thinking  about  this  instru 
ment?' 

"  *  Four  or  five  years.  The  first  were  put  on  sale  July 
26,  of  this  year.  I  had  only  a  hundred  made  at  first,  and 
have  had  thus  far  only  1,300  manufactured.  When  I  got 


34  THE  AUDIPHONE 

the  first  lot  of  the  audiphones  I  took  a  ten-year  old  boy,  a 
deaf  mute,  not  extra  bright,  either,  home  with  me,  and  in 
two  weeks,  with  little  more  than  half  an  hour's  instruction 
each  evening,  I  taught  him  to  understand  the  alphabet,  tew 
count  as  far  as  ten,  and  quite  a  number  of  small  words. 
Any  one  who  knows  the  difficulty  of  teaching  deaf  and 
dumb  children  will  appreciate  this  rapid  progress.  There 
are  now  deaf  and  dumb  children  in  Chicago  who,  by  means 
of  this  instrument,  can  hear  and  repeat  whole  sentences. 
The  movement  of  the  lips  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,  for 
they  can  hear  as  well  blindfolded  as  with  their  eyes  open. 
The  Princess  of  Wales  is  deaf.  I  sent  her  an  audi phone  a 
while  ago.  She  .probably  got  it  hist  week.  The  son  of  John 
Bright,  the  great  English  statesman,  while  in  Chicago,  a 
short^time  ago,  bought  two.  A  gentleman  bought  one  of 
me  to  send  to  a  missionary  in  Turkey.  Several  have  been 
sent  to  San  Francisco.  A  lady  and  a  gentleman  of  this 
city  each  have  one.  The  gentleman  is  E.  T.  Johnson,  an 
attorney  here.  I  will  show  the  audiphone  at  the  Indiana 
Institute  for  the  deaf  and  dumb  this  evening,  the  first  insti 
tute  of  the  kind  at  which  it  will  have  been  exhibited.  I 
am  convinced  that  the  first  institution  that  introduces  it 
will  be  the  first  to  teach  by  articulate  sound.  Deaf  mutes 
can  comprehend  music  before  everything  else,  by  means  of 
this  instrument,  and  can  measurably  enjoy  it/ 

*' i  Mr.  Ithodes,  your  audiphone  seems  to  be  as  wonderful 
as  that  instrument  told  of  by  Thomas  Hood  in  his  Tale  of 
a  Trumpet,  "  I  sold  her  a  trumpet,  and  the  very  next  day 
she  heard  from  her  fiusband  at  Botany  Bay." 

"'Ha!  ha!  The  instrument  is  not  wonderful.  I  don't 
claim  that;  it  is  simple.  I  haven't  been  trying  to  sell  any 
great  number  of  them  yet.  People  will  find  out  what  it  is. 
You  have  no  idea  of  the  amount  of  correspondence  I  already 
receive.  There  is  seemingly  no  end  to  the  inquiries.  I 


FOR  THE  DEAF.  35 

have  bad  it  patented  everywhere  and  can  afford  to  let  it 
advertise  itself.  I  certainly  can  make  a  fortune  out  of  it 
in  seventeen  years.  There  are  some  persons,  perhaps  one 
in  ten,  of  those  called  deaf  mutes,  to  whose  infirmity  this 
invention  can  aiford  no  help.  It  is  those  in  whom  the 
auditory  nerve  has  been  destroyed  by  disease.  False  teeth 
do  not  stand  in  the  way  of  using  the  instrument  if  the 
plate  fits  tightly.  Can  I  hear  through  the  telephone?  Oh 
yes,  with  this  fan  in  my  teeth.  I  hear  the  patter  of  the 
rain  outside  now,  and  the  street  noises.  I  can  not  hear 
whispers.  The  sounds  must  be  articulate.  The  more  I 
draw  up  this  string  at  the  back  the  more  and  the  sharper 
the  vibrations.  I  need  to  draw  it  up  considerably  to  hear 
a  bass  voice  distinctly.  It  is  somewhat  easier  to  under 
stand  female  voices.' 

"  A  bent  piece  of  metal,  a  tuning  fork  to  teeth  and  sev 
eral  similar  experiments  first  gave  Mr.  Rhodes  the  idea  of 
his  instrument.  Saturday  evening  he  showed  it  at  the  par 
lors  of  the  deaf  and  dumb  asylum,  several  of  the  pupils 
manifesting  unbounded  delight  upon  discovering  that  they 
could  hear  music  and  the  tcfnes  of  the  human  voice.  One 
young  lady  who  had  not  spoken  since  she  was  quite  a  child 
was  induced  to  attempt  to  pronounce  her  name.  She  did 
so  with  the  audiphone  to  her  teeth  and  was  overjoyed  to 
find  that  she  could  hear  her  own  voice." 


FROM  THE  INDIANAPOLIS  DAILY  SENTINEL. 

(October  14,  1879.) 
The  Audiphone— How  it  Works. 

"Mr.  Cox,  the  agent  for  the  new  instrument  called  an  audi 
phone,  explained  its  workings  to  a  Sentinel  reporter  yester 
day.  It  is  astonishing  that  it  has  only  been  invented  so 
recently. 


36  THE  AUDIPIIONE 

It  consists  of  a  sheet  of  carbonized  rubber,  about  8f  by 
10  inches  in  size,  to  which  is  attached  a  handle.  From  the 
top  of  the  fan  extends  a  couple  of  cords,  which  are  brought 
down  and  held  by  a  small  fastener  in  the  handle.  By  this 
the  tenston  can  be  increased  or  diminished  at  pleasure.  The 
edge  of  the  fan  is  placed  between  the  teeth,  or  allowed  to 
rest  on  them,  and  the  sound  of  a  voice  from  in  front  passes 
over  the  fan  to  the  teeth,  and  from  thence  to  the  auditory 
nerve,  thence  through  the  bones  of  the  face. 

A  deaf  and  dumb  person  can  hear  by  means  of  this  sim 
ple  instrument,  and  of  course  can  learn  to  speak.  It  will 
do  away  with  the  necessity  for  the  aslyums  over  the  country 
for  such  unfortunates.  For  the  worst  cases  there  is  an  addi 
tional  sheet  of  a  smaller  size  placed  on  the  under  side  of  the 
instrument,  to  assist  in  conveying  back  to  them  the  sound 
of  their  own  voices. 

The  experiments  made  at  the  asylum,  on  Saturday  were 
highly  satisfactory  to  all  parties.  The  cost  of  the  audiphoue 
is  $10  for  the  simple,  and  $15  for  the  compound." 


Letters   patent   for   the   Audi  phone  have  been   secured 
throughout  all  the  world. 


The  instrument  can  be  procured  by  enclosing  the  price, 
and  addressing 

RHODES  &  McCLUHE, 

Methodist  Church  Block,  Chicago,  III. 


PRICE: 


Conversational  Audiphone,        -      -        $IO.OO 
Opera  Audiphone,  Extra  Power,         -        I5.OO 


NEW  AND   POPULAR   BOOKS 


PUBLISHED     BT 


RHODES    &  McCLURE, 

j.  BS.  MCHC°LUERE  J  Methodist  Church  Block,  Chicago 


EDISON   AND    HIS   INVENTIONS.      8vo.,   178   pages, 

Illustrated.     Edited  by  J.  B.  McCLURE. 

This  book  contains  the  many  interesting  incidents,  and  all  the  essential  facts,  connected 
with  the  life  of  the  great  inventor,  together  with  a  full  explanation  of  his  principal  inven 
tions,  including  the  phonograph,  telephone,  and  electric  light,  which  are  explained  by 
the  aid  of  diagrams. — Preface. 

A  very  readable  book.—  The  Standard. 

Full  of  valuable  instruction. —  The  Inter-Ocean. 

Authentic  information  that  relates  to  the  man  and  his  work. — Chicago  Evening 
Journal. 

Price,  in  Cloth,  fine,  75  cents.     Paper  Covers,  35  cents. 


.LINCOLN'S    STORIES.     8vo.,  192  pages.     Illustrated.     Edited 
by  J.  B.  McCLURE. 

J.  B.  McClure,  who  has  become  the  most  successful  compiler  of  idle  hour  books  in  this 
country,  has  made  another  hit  with  a  large  collection  of  "  Lincoln's  Stories."  Mr. 
McClure  sells  his  books  by  the  ten  thousand.  His  compilations  have  decided  merit. 
They  are  always  of  a  pure,  moral,  and  religious  tone,  and  they  hit  the  popular  fancy. — 
The  Interior. 

Price,  in  Cloth,  fine,  75  cents.    Paper  Covers,  35  cents. 


MISTAKES  OF  INOEBSOLL  (No.  i),  as  shown  by  Prof. 
Swing,  W.  H.  Ryder,  D.D.,  Brooke  Herford,  D.D.,  J.  Monro  Gibson, 
D.D.,  Rabbi  Wise,  and  Others  ;  including  also  Mr.  Ingersoll's  Lecture, 
entitled,  "  THE  MISTAKES  OF  MOSES."  8vo.,  128  pages.  Illus 
trated.  Edited  by  J.  B.  McCLURE. 

Bound  in  Paper  Covers,  Price  35  cents. 


MISTAKES  OF  INGERSOLL  (No.  2,,  as  shown  by  Rev. 
W.  F.  Crafts,  Chaplain  C.  C.  McCabe,  D.D.,  Arthur  Swazey,  D.D., 
Robert  Collyer,  D.D.,  Fred.  Perry  Powers,  and  Others  ;  including  also 
Mr.  Ingersoll's  Lecture,  entitled  "  SKULLS,"  and  his  REPLIES  to 
Prof.  Swing,  Dr.  Ryder,  Dr.  Herford,  Dr.  Thomas,  Dr.  Collyer,  and 
other  Critics;  Ingersoll's  Funeral  Oration  at  his  mother's  grave,  together 
with  Henry  Ward  Beecher's  and  Hon.  Isaac  N.  Arnold's  comments  on 
the  same.  Svo.,  150  pages.  Illustrated.  Edited  by  J.  B.  McCLURE. 

Bound  in  Paper  Covers,  35  cents. 
37 


MISTAKES  OF  I  \<*  I1KSOLL  and  INGERSOLL'S 

ANSWERS.  8voM  278  pages.  Illustrated.  Edited  by  J.  B. 
McCLURE.  (This  volume  includes  the  full  contents  of  Nos.  i  and  2 — 
two  volumes  in  one.) 

The  collection  is  timely  and  creditable,  and  its  fairness  in  presenting  both  the  text 
and  comments  is  commendable. — Chicago  Evening  Journal, 

An  interesting  book  ;  it  is  not  often  that  a  public  character  like  this  famous  lecturer  is 
subjected  to  criticism,  which  is  at  once  so  fair  and  so  acute,  so  civil  in  manner,  and  yet_so 
just,  as  in  these  instances. — Advance.  0 

Price,  in  Cloth,  fine,  $1.OO. 


ENTERTAINING  ANECDOTES.  8vo.,  256  pages.  Illus 
trated.  Edited  by  J.  B.  McCLURE.  This  volume' includes  Anecdotes 
of  Noted  Persons,  Amusing  Stories,  Animal  Stories,  Love  Stories, 
Falling  Leaves,  etc.,  from  every  available  source. 

Price,  in   Cloth,  fine,  75  cents.    Paper  Covers,  35  cents. 


MOODY'S  CHILD  STORIES  ;  or,  STORIES  OF 
CHILDREN.  8vo.,  150  pages.  Handsomely  Illustrated.  Edited 
by  J.  B.  McCLURE. 

Price,  in  Cloth,  fine,  75  cents.    Paper  Covers,  35  cents. 


MOODY'S  ANECDOTES  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

8vo.,  200  pages.  Illustrated.  Comprising  all  of  Mr.  Moody's  Anecdotes 
and  Illustrations  used  by  him  in  his  revival  work  in  Europe  and 
America,  including  his  recent  work  in  Boston  ;  also,  Engravings  of 
Messrs.  Moody,  Sankey,  Whittle,  and  Bliss,  Moody's  Church,  Chicago 
Tabernacle,  Farwell  Hall,  etc. 

A  handsome  and  handy  volume  which  many  will  prize. — Neva  York  Evangelist* 

It  is  a  good  insight  into  the  workings  and  teachings  of  the  great  Evangelist. — Ne-u, 
Orleans  Daily  Democrat. 

A  book  of  Anecdotes  which  have  thrilled  hundreds  of  thousands. — Presbyterian 
Banner. 

Excellent  reading. — Standard. 

An  attractive  volume. — Chicago  Evening  Journal . 

Contains  the  pith  of  Moody's  theology,  methods,  and  eloquence. — Interior. 


The  book  has  been  compiled  by  Rev.  J.  B.  McClure,  whose  scholarship  and  journalistic 
ice  perfectly  fit  him  to  do  the  work  discriminatingly  and  well. — N.  W.  Christian 
Advocate  (Methodist). 


experience  perfectly 
?  (Methodis 

Price,  in  Cloth,  fine,  75  cents.    Paper  Covers,  35  cents. 


Any  of  the  above  books  will  be  sent  by  mail, 
post  paid,  on  receipt  of  price. 

RHODES   <&,    McCLURE, 


METHODIST  CHURCH  BLOCK,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 

38 


RHODES  &  McCLURE'S 


GUIDE  to  the  STARRY  HEAVENS 


For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  Astronomy,  we  have,  in  this  new 
."  Star  Guide,"  a  simple,  easy  and  correct  method  of  familiarizing  our 
selves  with  the  stars.  We  pronounce  it,  as  all  find  it,  "  the  best  thing  in 
the  world  for  studying  the  heavens."  The  map,  or  dial  of  the  heavens, 
(of  all  the  stars  seen  with  the  naked  eye)  is  made  to  revolve  by  means  ot 
a  knob  at  the  back,  the  North  Star  (Pin  the  cut)  being  the  center  of  motion. 
•  An  exact  map  of  the  heavens  is  easily  made  for  any  moment  of  time, 
and  any  constellation  or  particular  star  is  easily  found.  No  previous 
knowledge  of  Astronomy  is  required.  A  child  can  use  it  and  acquire  a 
knowledge  of  the  heavens.  Adapted  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States 
and  same  latitudes  throughout  the  world.  All  ordinary  "Globe  prob 
lems  ''  are  easily  solved.  The  reverse  side  contains  a  complete  summary 
of  Astronomy.  Edited  by  J.  B.  McCLURE.  Price,  $2.00 

FOR  SALE  BT 

RHODES  &  McCLURE, 

Methodist  Church  Block,         -          -          Chicago,  111. 

Sent  l>y  Mail,  on  Receipt  of  Price. 

(The  Star  Guide  is  16  inches  in  diameter,  finished  with  metal  trimmings,  and  Is 
ornamental,  useful  and  durable.)  39 


THE  AUDIPHONE, 


Fig.  3.  The  Audiphone 
properly  adjusted  to  the 
upper  teeth ;  ready  for 
use.  (Side  view.) 


FOB  THE  DEAF 


OTTAWAY  &  COMPANY.  PRS..  1*7  A   149  FIFTH  AVC.,  CHICAGO. 


RETURN  TO:       CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 
198  Main  Stacks 


LOAN  PERIOD     1 
Home  Use 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS. 

Renewals  and  Recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  the  due  date. 
Books  may  be  renewed  by  calling  642-3405. 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW. 


FORM  NO.  DD6 
50M    5-02 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
Berkeley,  California  94720-6000 


YC  51407 


